WORK EXPERIENCE

General /Artistic Director – Central City Opera 1996 – March 2022

I was hired as Managing Director in 1996 and was subsequently named General/Artistic Director in 1998, assuming all artistic duties in addition to the administrative management of the company.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, Central City Opera has traditionally produced a three opera, repertory season during the summer. They train an average of 31 young artists and 15 production interns during each season and reach approximately 120,000 students and adults with their community engagement programs, annually. Additionally, the company maintains 28 historic properties including its home, the Central City Opera House, which is a listed building on the National Register of Historic Places. Central City Opera operates with an annual budget of approximately $5 million and benefits from their own Endowment of $30 million (created by the addition, during my tenure, of $20 million to an existing $10 million).

Central City Opera is the 5th oldest opera company in the United States and the largest holder of historic properties in the State of Colorado.

As the General/Artistic Director of the company, I managed a festival staff of 200 and worked with three unions whose contracts I negotiated every 3 years. The company had a year-round staff of 18 working in Development, Marketing, Finance, Education, Artistic, Operations and Historic Preservation. I worked with a board of directors of approximately 45 and a guild of 200 volunteers.

Additionally, I sat on the Board of Opera America, a national service organization based in New York, as well as chairing subcommittees of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District ( a tax district created to fund scientific and cultural organizations in the Denver metro area).

During my 26 years with the company I advanced the artistic quality of our work and built a strong and broad professional network.

General Director – Mobile Opera Inc. 1986 – 1996
During the decade of my tenure with the company, we built its infrastructure through the addition of professional staff and enhanced its regional reputation. Working with a Board of Directors of 50 and a Guild of 200, I managed a small staff of 4 and successfully produced a 2 opera season for 10 years including a 50th anniversary season with a benefit concert by Leontyne Price.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Music, Choral Conducting and Literature – University of South Alabama
Master of Music, Vocal Performance - University of Southern Mississippi
National Opera Institute Apprentice – Opera Company of Philadelphia

HONORS

Rosa Ponselle International Voice Competition - Judge
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions - Judge
National Endowment for the Arts, Washington D.C., Overview Panel - Chair
National Endowment for the Arts Washington D.C., Opera/Music Theatre Panel - Member
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation - Arts and Humanities Award, 2013
Denver Post “Opera Person of the Year” 2010

REFERENCES

Available upon request.