Heather Kitchen, the General Director and CEO of Calgary Opera will leave the organization on Dec. 31.

In January 2019, Calgary Opera’s Board of Directors appointed Kitchen as the Managing Director and CEO in a co-leadership position with Director Bramwell Tovey. In 2020, Kitchen agreed to serve as General Director as well as CEO when Tovey stepped down due to an illness.

Throughout her time at Calgary Opera, Kitchen has been responsible for leading the organization through a global pandemic, the search and appointment of the current Artistic Director Jonathan Brandani, and through the 50th Anniversary Season. She also spent time revamping Calgary Opera’s education and community programming, workshops, and stagecraft training. She spearheaded nine Main Stage opera production and eleven auxiliary productions, several of which were Candian premieres.

Kitchen stated in the company’s press release, “I am honored to have served as a leader of Calgary Opera for the last five years. I have had the opportunity to partner with outstanding artists and staff and work closely with an engaged board. We are all proud of the progress we have made and sharing our work with our incredible, supportive audiences.”

After her departure, she will continue her role as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School at the University of Connecticut.