(Photo credit: Olivier Koning)

Conductor, educator, and cultural activist Elizabeth Askren has been named the first-ever Principal Guest Conductor of Hawai’i Opera Theatre (HOT).

Elizabeth Askren has serve as a master teacher at both The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors and at the Paris Opera’s Academy. She made history by judging the Paris Philharmonic’s inaugural La Maestra Competition for Women Conductors alongside her mentor, Marin Alsop. Askren is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Transylvanian Opera Academy. Askren holds degrees in piano and conducting from The Juilliard School, Oberlin Conservatory, and the Conducting Institute of Bard in the United States, as well as the Schola Cantorum, the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, and the Romanian National Academy of Music “Gheorghe Dima” in Europe. She was awarded the highest teaching diplomas from both the French Ministry of Culture and the Romanian Ministry of Education. She received administrative training from Harvard’s Kennedy School, Christie’s Education, and Paris’ Cité de la Musique.

Last season she made mainstage debuts with The Dallas Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opéra de Dijon, and Hawaii Opera Theatre where she conducted Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci.”

HOT’s General Director, Andrew Morgan, made a priority of seeking diversity for cast and creative teams, including increased opportunities for female conductors and stage directors. In a press release he says, “We needed someone who not only has experience with contemporary works but is also sensitive to singers’ needs and with a nurturing approach, since HOT typically engages younger singers. From the very first rehearsal – and even prior to her arrival – we knew we had found someone completely in command of the score, with a broad and deep knowledge of opera as an artform, and a collegial attitude that put everyone at ease in rehearsals and performances, coupled with extremely high artistic standards.”

Artistic Director Jamie Offenbach added,”After Maestra Askren’s debut with HOT, we knew instantly that we wanted to build a relationship with her by looking for future projects. We knew that she would be the perfect fit.”

Askren expressed her excitement by saying, “Sometimes there is a chemistry between an artist and a house which is immediate and undeniable. In a post-pandemic atmosphere of doom and gloom, HOT continues to innovate and lead with heart, with a deep love of the craft, and who treats their artists with respect. They are a company which epitomizes grace under pressure and are a wonderful example of an opera company serving its public. For all of these reasons, I am honored to collaborate with HOT under a new title: that of Principal Guest Conductor.”