The Canadian Opera Company has announced the appointment of Ian Derrer as the company’s next General Director. Derrer, who has stepped down from his current position as the General Director and CEO of The Dallas Opera, will assume the role on July 1, 2026.

Derrer has been at the helm of The Dallas Opera for the past eight years. During his tenure, the company strengthened its financial position and recently completed a fundraising campaign that raised $54.5 million, exceeding its $25 million goal by $4.5 million. The company also experienced significant audience growth, with attendance rising among patrons aged 18–45.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Canadian Opera Company at such a pivotal moment,” Derrer said, per an official press release. “I have long admired the COC’s ambitious artistic programming and extraordinary body of work and am eager to work alongside Artistic Director Roberto Mauro and Music Director Johannes Debus, both of whom I have deeply respected for years. I’m especially drawn to the company’s global reputation as a welcoming and supportive community for artists, staff, and audiences. With so many exciting plans already underway for the future, I look forward to working with this remarkable team in bringing to life a shared vision for the next chapter of opera in Canada.”

Regarding his departure from The Dallas Opera, Derrer noted that “I am truly proud of the work that we’ve accomplished here in Dallas, and I know that I leave this great company in a solid position for its future. I am so very fortunate to have been able to work with a board, staff, and community that deeply loves opera, especially our music director, Emmanuel Villaume. While I look forward to this new opportunity with COC, I offer my sincerest gratitude and admiration to everyone at TDO and to the generous arts community in North Texas.”

Prior to his time in Dallas, Derrer served as General Director of Kentucky Opera and spent eight years at Lyric Opera of Chicago as Director of Production and Head of the Rehearsal Department. A trained baritone with degrees from Brooklyn College, Northwestern University, and Southern Methodist University, he began his career as a singer, stage manager, and assistant director.

Derrer will take over at Canadian Opera Company for David C. Ferguson, who has served as the COC’s General Director since June 2024. The Dallas Opera did not announce a replacement for Derrer.

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