Opera Saratoga Announces Two New Senior Staff Members

By Francisco Salazar

Opera Saratoga has added two new employees to its senior staff.

The company announced that Jonathan Blalock, an author, tenor, performing-arts media consultant and former COO of Roven Records, will serve as development and patron services manager while Charla Jeanne Lawson, former managing director of Townsend Opera in Modesto, Calif., will start as company manager. Both positions will be effective on Jan. 2 and both will move to Saratoga.

Opera Saratoga also announced the retirement of Patty Finnerty, longtime director of finance and administration. Finnerty will retire after 20 years with the company ending an era in the company.

As a singer, Blalock is a specialist in 21st-century music and has originated almost two dozen roles for the Dallas Opera, Washington National Opera and other companies. He has also performed numerous roles by Mozart and Rossini. He is also a public speaker and a podcast host.

Meanwhile, Lawson has served as assistant company manager for the West Edge Opera, a festival company in Berkely, Calif.

This season the company will showcase “The Consul,” “The Merry Widow” and the double bill “Rocking Horse Winner” and “Vinkensport or The Finch Opera.” The season opens in June 2018.

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