Matthew Shilvock has extended his contract as General Director of the San Francisco Opera.

The Board of Directors of San Francisco Opera approved a new five-year contract extension effective August 1, 2026 and which will see Shilvock lead the company through the 2030–31 season.

Board President Jack Calhoun said, “On behalf of the entire board of directors, I am very happy to announce Matthew’s contract extension. This is a key piece of ensuring we keep the tremendous momentum we have seen over these last few years, and we are lucky to have him at the helm. Working closely with Matthew, I appreciate his unique ability in the complex world of large opera companies to work with his team to deliver top-tier artistry, manage the financial complexities of running a large performing arts organization, and establishing meaningful relationships with our donors, who are the lifeblood of our organization.”

Shilvock added, “It is an extraordinary honor to continue serving a company with such a storied legacy and such boundless possibility. San Francisco Opera is an incredible creative community, with company members and patrons passionately committed to art that helps us understand the world and our place in it. We’re entering an era of vital energy for the theatrical arts, celebrating the power of live, human storytelling, and embracing the possibilities of new technologies. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue working as part of this remarkable company of extraordinarily talented people as we shape the future together.”

Shilvock became San Francisco Opera’s seventh general director in August 2016, following in the footsteps of his mentor David Gockley. He has led the company for ten seasons and has introduced several premieres including Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang’s “The Monkey King,” Gabriela Lena Frank’s “El último sueño de Frida y Diego,” and Kaija Saariaho’s “Innocence (2024).” Under Shilvock, San Francisco Opera has commissioned or been a part of the co-commissioning consortium for eight new works. Shilvock’s tenure has also overseen the Company’s reemergence from the global COVID-19 pandemic. In one of the first large-scale returns to live opera performance, a specially adapted production of Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” performed on a music festival stage in a drive-in setting marked the Company’s first live performances in 16 months. This period ushered in a new focus on innovation for the Company with the launch of the Carol and Dixon Doll Creative Edge Fund.

San Francisco Opera’s 104th season opens Sept. 12, 2026 with Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.”