Chautauqua Opera has announced that President Michael Hill will step down from his position to pursue a new role in academia at Randolph-Macon College.

Among Hill’s greatest achievements is the work with The Jefferson Project, which supports science-based solutions for the conservation of Chautauqua Lake. As part of that effort, Hill raised $7 million to support those efforts. He also curated eight Summer Assembly programs with the opera company and generated more than $145 million to date toward a goal of $150 million by June 2026 as part of a fundraising campaign for the Chautauqua Opera.

“My eight-plus years in service to Chautauqua have been among the most rewarding and challenging of my career,” Hill said per an official press release, “…it has been the honor of a lifetime to work alongside the talented Chautauqua team to advance our mission.”

“Amid successes and challenges alike, Michael has represented this Institution with exemplary dignity and integrity, always with an unwavering focus on positioning Chautauqua to continue to thrive in the decades ahead. We are grateful for his service and commitment,” added Institution Board of Trustees Chair Candace L. Maxwell.

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