The Midwest Institute of Opera (MIO) will present its 2015 season performances July 18-30, in Illinois State University’s Center for the Performing Arts. The season will feature operas by Gioachino Rossini and Maurice Ravel along with the world premiere of a work by Griffen Candey. All tickets are $10 at the door and payable by cash or check only.

Performances of Rossini’s Le cenerentola (Cinderella) will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 30. The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. Ravel’s The Bewitched Child will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, on a double bill with the world premiere of Griffen Candey’s Sweets by Kate.

A free performance of The Bewitched Child will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 27. Email mioperatunities@aol.com for reservations.

MIO singers will also present free performances at 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, at the University Galleries in Uptown Normal, and at noon on Thursday, July 23, and Sunday, July 26, at Ewing Manor in Bloomington. MIO singers will also join Illinois State voice faculty for a free evening of vocal music at 7 p.m. Monday, July 27, on the front steps of Illinois State’s Cook Hall. That performance is part of Illinois State’s Concerts on the Quad series.

The Midwest Institute of Opera gives emerging professional musicians from across the globe an opportunity to perform complete operatic roles in their original language under the guidance of professional opera staff. Professor John M. Koch, Illinois State University School of Music, and Tracy M. Koch, soprano, are the opera company’s artistic directors and co-founders. For more information on performances, cast, and staff, visit the MIO website.