Indie Opera Productions has announced that singer, songwriter, and teacher Ashley Renee Watkins will be joining the company as a new co-host.

Watkins, a New Orleans native, currently serves as Director of Education for Heartbeat Opera’s production of “Breathing Free – a virtual song cycle,” where she leads a team of teaching artists. Committed to teaching, Watkins has been on the faculty of Lincoln Center Education, has recently developed The Marguerite Watson National Teaching Artist Cohort, and is a mentor for the Diversity in Arts Leadership Network for Americans for the Arts. Watkins is versed in the genres of opera, R&B, jazz, and soul.

“I’m excited to add to conversation around our ever-evolving world of opera,” writes Watkins. “Indie Opera Podcast has been a part of stretching that conversation in a range of both serious and hilarious ways, and I’m happy the team has welcomed my voice!”

Watkins will join a team that includes conductor Peter Szep, (Indie Opera’s Executive Producer), mezzo-soprano Brooke Larimer (Business & Operations Manager for Indie Opera), stage director Walker Lewis, journalist Gregory Moomjy, and composer C. Colby Sachs (Indie Opera Associate Producer).

“We are excited to add Ashlee Renée Watkins’ deep understanding of opera and her passion to reach new audiences to our podcast family,” Szep added about Watkins joining the team.