JMU's Opera Theatre membership is by audition only and open to any JMU student. The James Madison University Opera Theatre is devoted to providing developing singers with opportunities to perform in fully staged operas and operettas. JMU Opera produces one fully staged opera, one operetta, and an opera scenes gala each year. Performances take place in the multi-million dollar Forbes Center for the Performing Arts and have attracted esteemed guest conductors to work with students.

Students involved in JMU Opera hail from prominent performing arts high schools, universities, and conservatories and are pursuing degrees in Music Performance and Education at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Past productions have included critically acclaimed performances of "The Merry Widow," "Cosi fan Tutte," "Suor Angelica," "The Medium," "Elixir of Love," “The Pirates of Penzance,” and "The Magic Flute." Students have been successful in national competitions such as NATS and have performed and studied internationally in Germany and Italy.