Springfield Regional Opera rolling out name change

Springfield Regional Opera is quietly rolling out a name change before fully going public with the new moniker.

The arts nonprofit announced in a newsletter to supporters yesterday that it's becoming Ozarks Lyric Opera.

"Join us over the next few weeks for updates on our progress, new announcements and insights into our transformation," the newsletter reads.

Christopher Koch, executive director and music director for the opera, said the newsletter represented a "soft" release of the new name, with a formal news release, as well as social media announcements and changes, planned later this month.

The new name also has appeared on the nonprofit's website and on an event page for one of the opera's upcoming shows.

The opera, which conducts shows at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts and the Gillioz Theatre, has a show scheduled this evening of jazz musical "The Real Ambassadors." It's slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Gillioz.

The opera in 2018 produced $180,705 in operating revenue, according to its most recent IRS tax filing.

The opera last year teamed up with the Springfield Ballet, Springfield Little Theatre and Springfield Regional Arts Council to form arts advocacy and fundraising group Ozarks Performing Arts League, according to past reporting.