San Francisco Opera has announced the appointment of John Keene as Chorus Director, effective January 2022.

Keene is currently Head of Music Staff and Chorus Master at Seattle Opera and will work remotely starting in January before relocating to the Bay Area to begin rehearsals for the Company’s summer season productions of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang’s Dream of the Red Chamber and a Verdi concert led by Eun Sun Kim.

Keene will succeed Ian Robertson who will retire at the end of 2021 following a distinguished 35-year tenure. In his new position, Keene will be responsible for the preparation and artistic standard of the acclaimed San Francisco Opera Chorus, working closely with Caroline H. Hume Music Director Eun Sun Kim, guest conductors and music staff.

His appointment comes after a search process led by Tad and Dianne Taube General Director Matthew Shilvock, Artistic Managing Director Gregory Henkel, and Eun Sun Kim, which included rehearsal sessions with the Opera Chorus.

In a statement, Keene noted, “I could not be more excited to join San Francisco Opera as Chorus Director. It is a great honor and privilege to be given the trust of carrying on the exceptional legacy built by Ian Robertson within this great company. I was inspired by the immediate connection I felt with the Chorus when we rehearsed together recently, and I am so looking forward to our work of bringing the highest possible artistic standard onstage for our audiences. Working closely with Music Director Eun Sun Kim is another aspect of this new challenge which fills me with eagerness to get started. With deep respect and gratitude for the many shoulders on which I stand, I am ready to help bring great opera to life with the gifted San Francisco Opera Chorus.”

Keene made his Seattle Opera debut in 2012 preparing the company’s chorus for Beethoven’s “Fidelio” and has conducted the company premiere of Laura Kaminsky’s “As One” as well as  assistant conductor for Wagner’s four-part “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” He also acted as musical consultant for the recording of the Ring cycle issued on the Avie label.