Michael J. Bobbitt has been named OPERA America’s next President and CEO. He will assume leadership on Jan. 1, 2026, under a five-year contract. The announcement was made by Board Chair Lee Anne Myslewski on behalf of the Board of Directors of OPERA America. Bobbitt, a trained trumpeter and classical vocalist, joins OPERA America from the Mass Cultural Council in {…}
OPERA America will celebrate the retirement of President / CEO Marc A. Scorca on March 20, 2026, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The event will also honor Opera Hall of Fame Inductees and award recipients of the Trustee Recognition. The Opera Hall of Fame 2025 inductees include baritone and teacher Donnie Ray Albert, librettist and teacher Mark {…}
Opera America has announced its 2025 National Opera Trustee winners. This year’s winners include Jeffrey Cunard of Washington National Opera, Janet Farrell of IN Series, Erin Flannery of Experiments in Opera, Liz Kathman Grubow of Cincinnati Opera, and Mel Weingart of OPERA San Antonio. The award honors those who have displayed exemplary leadership and service on behalf of their organization. {…}
Opera Volunteers International will present the Partners in Excellence Award in honor of Lucille “Luci” F. Gorski. The Toledo Opera Guild led by co-Presidents, Barbara J. Brown and Celinda Niggemyer nominated Gorski for her leadership within the opera community since the 1980s. Toledo Opera Director of Marketing and Communications, Rachael Cammarn will accept the award on behalf of Toledo Opera {…}
OPERA America has announced its 2025 Marineau Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors. The winners include Rebekah Heller for her work with American Opera Projects on “Barcelona, Map of Shadows; Chelsea Gallo, who will conduct “Carmen” at Dayton Performing Arts Alliance; Chía Patiño who will lead “The House on Mango Street” at The Glimmerglass Festival; Kaneza Schaal for {…}
The New York Opera Alliance (NYOA) has announced that “Opera Fest 2025” will take place May 1 – June 30. “Opera Fest” will feature over two dozen performances by NYOA member companies across all five boroughs. This year, the festival aims to highlight the cultural tapestry of NYC with performances in traditional theatres, public libraries, museums, and outdoor spaces. The {…}
Opera AMERICA has announced that Deborah F. Rutter, the former president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is set to be the Keynote Speaker for the Opera Conference 2025. Rutter was the first woman president of the Kennedy Center, holding the position from 2014 through 2025. Rutter was ousted as President Donald Trump took over the institution and {…}
The Women’s Opera Network Forum is set to take place virtually on March 25 and 26, 2025. The two-day event opens with an “Opening & Women’s Healing Circle” from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., followed by a “Reproductive Health Presentation” from 1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The day will conclude with a “Reproductive Health Q&A” (closed session) from 3:15 p.m. {…}
OPERA America has released its 2024 Annual Field Report. These findings provide leaders in the field with a comprehensive overview of the financial health and productivity of opera companies in North America. The report is a tool for those working at and supporting opera companies to understand recent trends in the industry that underpin the operating landscape and to have {…}
(Photo credit: National Sawdust) Spanish composer and conductor Pedro Halffter will take part in a panel discussion on his new chamber opera, “KLARA.” Opera Hispánica in collaboration with National Sawdust, Divaria Productions, and the New York City Opera, presents the New York premiere of “KLARA,” in a new production directed and choreographed by choreographer Richard Stafford. “KLARA” features soprano Ashley {…}
(Photo Credit: Maria Baranova) Armenian-American composer and documentarian Mary Kouyoumdjian’s opera, “Adoration,” is set to makes its west coast premiere in a co-presentation by LA Opera and Beth Morrison Projects. Kouyoumdjian was awarded an OPERA America commissioning grant to create an opera adaptation of Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s “Adoration.” Written in collaboration with librettist Royce Vavrek, the operatic version touches {…}