The Dallas Opera is set to embark on the 10th edition of its Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors.

To honor its 10th anniversary, the institution will shift its format. Whereas before it was a residency with a class of composers, this year, the program will feature a special Anniversary Showcase Concert on Jan. 25, 2025. Among the performers are six alumnae from the Institute’s first decade, including Elizabeth Askren, Tiffany Chang, Michelle Di Russo, Barbara Dragan, Tianyi Lu, and Shira Samuels-Shragg. There will also be a guest host. Each of the conductors will lead the Dallas Opera Orchestra and guest singers in a wide range of repertoire.

Moreover, during the 2025-26 season, the Institute will launch the Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Fellowship, which will provide practical, firsthand experience as an assistant conductor, rehearsal pianist, offstage conductor, vocal coach, assistant chorus director, and more. The inaugural recipient is Jingqi Zhu, who will serve as assistant conductor for The Dallas Opera’s production of “Carmen” this October.

“When the Hart Institute began 10 years ago, we knew it had the potential to create a significant impact,” said Ian Derrer, TDO’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, per an official press release. “Now, we see how this program has made a huge difference in the lives and careers of many talented conductors. This new seasonal fellowship is a crucial step in deepening the contribution that Hart Institute alumnae, like Jingqi Zhu, will have in our field for generations to come.”

Finally, applications for the 2026-27 season fellowship will open on June 1 and are due by August 31. Four finalists will be called to Dallas in February 2026 to audition for the position. Meanwhile, the Hart Institute will resume its usual format of virtual training and 10 days of in-person workshops in January 2027.

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