ORGANIZATIONS

GUILD OPERA CELEBRATES 60th ANNIVERSARY

Guild Opera will be celebrating 60 years of introducing young audiences to opera June 20 at the Autry National Center of the American West with the help of three internationally acclaimed opera stars — Marilyn Horne, Mary Costa and Heinz Blankenburg.

Chairwomen Joanne Horne and Fran Benedict, both Glendale residents, have been searching for former company singers and found Grace-Lynne Martin Ingle living in La Crescenta.

She sang many roles for Guild Opera, including the Dew Fairy and Gretel in “Hansel and Gretel,” Marie and Esmerelda in “The Bartered Bride,” Papagena in “The Magic Flute” and Clorinda in “Cinderella.”

Tickets are $60 and may be reserved by calling (323) 463.6593 or by e-mailing jetffloyd @ aol.com or GuildOperaCo@aol.com.

Featured at the gala is the world premiere of the opera for children, “The Treasure of California,” written and directed by Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos, Guild Opera’s artistic director. Set in the time of the California Gold Rush, the work is based on Puccini’s “Girl of the Golden West.”

There will be two performances, 2 and 4:30 p.m., with a reception and silent auction for both audiences at 3 p.m. between performances.

GLENDALE SOROPTIMIST INSTALLS OFFICERS

Soroptimist International of Glendale will install officers at a luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hilton Glendale.

Soroptimist Camino Real Region District 2 Director Margo Bottcher will serve as the installing officer.

She will install the 2009-10 board of directors, which will be led by incoming President Sandy Doughty. Doughty’s theme for the year will be “Progress through the passion of giving.”

Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls.

The Glendale club identifies the needs of the community, and then establishes projects that address them.