RACE is an opera inspired by the life story of Kelley Dolphus Stroud, a Colorado Springs resident, and an American of African, Native, and European descent, who rose to be a star scholar-athlete projected to win the 5k Olympic trials in 1928. His story, exhibiting excellence, uniquely stunning achievement, love, and determination, starts when he is denied funding to travel from Colorado Springs to Boston for the Olympic trial.

The workshop performance will be the first early presentation of RACE the opera, in progress. While the entire opera will be presented in 2024 in Colorado Springs, guests are invited to experience an intimate preview concert with the composer João Rocha at the piano. Rocha will perform some themes to the music, and discuss the work, the characters, and his thoughts around the process. Members of the Stroud family will also share more about the development of the opera and their family history.

RACE the opera is a project of the International Brazilian Opera Company (IBOC) developed in partnership with the Stroud Family. The IBOC is a New York-based non-profit (501c3) organization with a mission to support the creation of a new operatic repertoire that combines ideas from Brazilian and international artists while providing an educational structure for emerging talent.