Opera Omaha announced that General Director Roger Weitz will step down from his role at the end of the year.

Weitz, who began his tenure in August of 2011, has earned accolades for its diverse and artistically excellent programming and for extending its reach locally, nationally, and internationally.

In a statement, Weitz said, “I was born and raised in Omaha, and it’s been an honor to lead my hometown opera company for more than a decade. I am incredibly fortunate to do what I love in a place that I cherish, and I’d like to thank the people of this city who have embraced and supported Opera Omaha throughout my time here.”

Elisa Davies, General Counsel, Senior Vice President of HDR, and Opera Omaha Board Chair added, “Roger’s diverse talents and aptitudes have enabled the company to achieve prominent excellence, making Omaha a destination for opera. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Roger for his outstanding leadership in making Opera Omaha artistically vibrant, relevant to today’s audiences, and fiscally responsible. He will leave us in a strong position as we embark on our next chapter.”

Under the leadership of Weitz, Opera Omaha grew substantially with ticket sales, the number of season subscribers, the endowment, and the company’s annual budget. Donations given to Opera Omaha went up every year of Weitz’s tenure, and with one exception, the company ended each year in the black. The breadth and depth of programming grew as well. He also oversaw the debuts of 25 new/original productions including 19 Opera Omaha premieres and 6 world premieres.

Notable innovations from Weitz’s tenure include the Holland Community Opera Fellowship, the ONE Festival, and Amplifying the Black Experience. Weitz plans to remain active in the Omaha community after his departure from Opera Omaha and will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of OPERA America, the national service organization for opera.

Opera Omaha completed a search for a new General Director this Fall and plans to announce Weitz’s successor in the coming months.