Seattle Opera announced on Oct. 1 that composer Huang Ruo will serve as the company’s first composer-in-residence, beginning in 2027.

The three-year residency starts during the 2027-28 season with the Seattle premiere of Huang Ruo’s “M. Butterfly” and culminates in the world premiere of his new opera “The Wedding Banquet.”

During the residency, Huang Ruo will curate performances of new music and take part in the company’s community engagement efforts. He will also serve as a guest mentor for local opera composers in the Jane Lang Davis Creation Lab, Seattle Opera’s new works incubator program.

“It is rare for opera companies to engage Composers-in-Residence, so I think this partnership demonstrates both Seattle Opera’s bold vision for the future of the art form and an exciting model for how opera companies can work with living creators to create, present, and engage the community around new opera,” Huang Ruo said, per an official press release.

Born on Hainan Island, China, Huang Ruo written 10 operas and previously served as the first composer-in-residence at Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam. He is on the composition faculty at the Mannes School of Music.

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