OPERA America has announced the nine companies that will be awarded $100,000 in grants for commissioning operas by female composers. The recipients include Beth Morrison Projects for Du Yun’s “In Our Daughter’s Eyes,” which is written by Michael Joseph McQuilken; Boston Lyric Opera for Ellen Reid and librettist Christopher Oscar Peña’s “The Desert Inn;” Guerilla Opera for “HER: alive / {…}
Clare Burovac has been named General Director – Designate of New Orleans Opera, effective immediately. Burovac is the first woman to take the helm of the historic arts organization and succeeds Robert Lyall who is stepping down as General Director, as of September 15, 2020. Lyall will continue serving as Artistic Director for the remainder of the 2020-21 season. “Clare {…}
OPERA America has announce the recipients for the 2020 Discovery Grants, which include over $100,000 for Female Composers. This year’s recipients include Lisa Bielawa for “Centuries in the Hours;” Justine F. Chen for “Seven Sisters;” Melissa Dunphy for “Alice Tierney;” Johanny Navarro for “¿Y los Pasteles? Ópera Jibara en Dos Actos;” Milica Paranosic for “Penelope and the Geese;” Kirsten Volness {…}
OPERA America has announced the recipients of its 2020 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards, which are given to trustees of opera companies for their strong leadership and generosity. This year, the recipients include Robert Ellis of San Francisco Opera, H. Bernt von Ohlen of Minnesota Opera, Linda Koehn of Des Moines Metro Opera, Phil Meyer of Pacific Opera Project, and {…}
OPERA America has selected 15 participants for its 2020 Leadership Intensive Program. These leaders, which hail from the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Latin America, were selected from a pool of 44 candidates. The participants selected by OPERA America include are Derrell Acon, director of engagement and equity, Long Beach Opera; Joe Barnes, company manager, the Metropolitan Opera; Robert Boldin, artistic {…}
Opera America has announced the recipients for the grants given to female composers. The recipients include Du Yun, for her opera “Sweet Land;” this work is set to be presented by The Industry in Los Angeles, California. The work was written by Douglas Kearny and Aja Couchois and will also be co-composed by Raven Chacon. Next up is Caroline Shaw {…}
Opera America has announced the major themes of its Opera Conference 2019. The major annual event will take place between June 12-16 in San Francisco and will feature more than 700 opera administrators, trustees, and artists who will discuss three overlying themes: Examining Traditions, Exploring Business Innovation and Deepening Civic Practice. “Examining Traditions” will be led by Philip Kennicott of {…}
OPERA America has announced the 16 participants hailing from the U.S., Canada, and Latin America who will partake in its 2019 Leadership Intensive program. The program’s 6th generation of participants were chosen “through a competitive selection process focusing on candidates’ potential to make significant contributions to the opera field.” Participants for this year include Daniel Benavent, General Manager of Theatre Aspen; Vincent Covatto, {…}
OPERA America has announced the launch of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Opera Grants. The Grants have been made possible by Charles and Cerise Jacobs Charitable Foundation and are intended to fund initiatives racial inequality in the opera world. Two grants will be awarded annually to composer-librettist teams with each partnership receiving $12,500 to advance their work through workshops, {…}
Ryan Speedo Green will be the chair of OPERA America’s National Opera Week. In a post via social media, the organization announced that the bass-baritone would be the Honorary Chair of the week which celebrates opera through various panels and events. In response to the honor, Speedo Green said, “I’m honored to be the honorary chair of OPERA America’s National Opera {…}
Race and ethnicity continue to vex the opera world in the same manner as they do the rest of society. If events at last week’s Opera America Conference are indicative of the industry, it’s a topic that requires further discussion at future conferences with no easy answers in sight. There were no fewer than five panels related to race and {…}