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Tuesday, May 5
 

9:00am EDT

Finance Committee Meeting
Limited Capacity seats available
By invitation.
Tuesday May 5, 2015 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Georgetown I - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, OPERA America Board

10:00am EDT

Learning & Leadership Committee Meeting
Limited Capacity seats available
By invitation.
Tuesday May 5, 2015 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Georgetown II - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, OPERA America Board

11:00am EDT

Communications and Advocacy Committee Meeting
Limited Capacity seats available
By invitation.
Tuesday May 5, 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Georgetown II - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, OPERA America Board

12:00pm EDT

OPERA America Board Meeting and Lunch
Limited Capacity seats available
By invitation. Includes lunch.
Tuesday May 5, 2015 12:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Georgetown I - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, OPERA America Board

4:30pm EDT

OPERA America and Washington National Opera Board of Directors Dinner
Limited Capacity seats available
By invitation.

4:30 p.m. Bus departs from the Washington Marriott to pier 
5:15 p.m. Boat departure from Georgetown and onboard reception
7:00 p.m. Reception and tour of Mount Vernon
8:00 p.m. Dinner
10:00 p.m. Return transportation by bus

Tuesday May 5, 2015 4:30pm - 10:00pm EDT
Mount Vernon 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
  Meal, OPERA America Board
 
Wednesday, May 6
 

8:30am EDT

Opera Advocacy Day
Limited Capacity seats available
Registration for Opera Advocacy Day’s meetings with members of Congress is now closed. Those on the waitlist can still participate in the Opera Advocacy Day morning session in the Rayburn House Office Building.


This is your opportunity to advocate on behalf of the arts as members of the 114th Congress take office. Represent opera on a range of issues, including support for the National Endowment for the Arts, preservation of charitable giving incentives and quick visa processing for foreign guest artists. All full conference registrants are encouraged to participate. Bus departs at 8:00 a.m. from the Washington Marriott Georgetown; Return buses at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Day on the Hill Schedule
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Arts Issues Briefing and Advocacy Training
Includes continental breakfast and conversation with NEA leadership.

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Hill Meetings
The deadline for registration has now passed. Box lunch available for purchase ($21.99).

Suggested Resource:
Wednesday May 6, 2015 8:30am - 4:00pm EDT
Rayburn House Office Building, Room B339 45 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, DC 20515
  Meeting, Open

1:30pm EDT

New Works Forum
Limited Capacity seats available
The New Works Forum is a series of sessions that offers insight, practical knowledge and networking opportunities for creators and producers of new opera and musical theater works. The opera industry continues to identify and support the creators of new works while also working to address challenges and opportunities associated with producing in the 21st century. Advance registration required. No additional fee. 


1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Nurturing the Pre-commissioning Process
How can companies use their facilities and resources to help creators gain experience? Learn more about how composers, librettists and directors are developing ideas and concepts for new work before receiving a formal commission. LAWRENCE EDELSON, artistic and general director/ producing artistic director, Opera Saratoga/American Lyric Theater; CORI ELLISON, dramaturg; SARAH WILLIAMS, new works administrator, Opera Philadelphia; .

2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Risky Business
Risk and failure are inherent parts of creativity. Learn how creators and producers can track progress completely and honestly throughout the development process. At what point should a work, no matter how brilliant, go no further? Find out about strategies for assessing a work in its early phases, how to best preserve the effort that went into creating it, protecting the rights of all parties and learning from the experience. SANDRA BERNHARD, director of HGOco, Houston Grand Opera; FLOYD ANDERSON, artist relations and planning director, Minnesota Opera.

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tragedy Is Easy; Comedy Is Hard
New works dealing with serious subject matter and socially relevant topics dominate season repertoire. But where are the contemporary comic or satirical operas in the modern canon, and why are they so difficult to create? MARK ADAMO, composer; MARK CAMPBELL, librettist; PEGGY MONASTRA, artistic director, G. Schirmer/AMP; KIM WITMAN, senior director, Wolf Trap Opera; KAMALA SANKARAM, composer.

The New Works Forum is made possible by a generous and deeply appreciated grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Suggested Resources:
Speakers
avatar for Mark Adamo

Mark Adamo

composer-librettist, self
FA

Floyd Anderson

Artistic Relations & Planning Director, Minnesota Opera
avatar for Sandra Bernhard

Sandra Bernhard

Director of HGOco, Houston Grand Opera
avatar for Mark Campbell

Mark Campbell

Librettist, Independent
2020 Premieres: EDWARD TULANE, A NATION OF OTHERS, A SWEET SILENCE IN CREMONA, STONE SOUPS; 2020 Productions: ELIZABETH CREE, THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS, THE SHINING, SILENT NIGHT, AS ONE, THE OTHER ROOM, etc.
avatar for Lawrence Edelson

Lawrence Edelson

Founder / Artistic & General Director, American Lyric Theater / Opera Saratoga
Lawrence Edelson is highly respected not only as a critically acclaimed stage director, but also as a visionary company leader who has created programs in the areas of new works development and artist mentorship that have served as models of innovation for opera companies around... Read More →
avatar for Cori Ellison

Cori Ellison

Dramaturg
Cori Ellison, a leading creative figure in the opera world, has served as staff Dramaturg at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and New York City Opera. Active in developing contemporary opera, she teaches dramaturgy for American Lyric Theater’s Composer Librettist Development Program... Read More →
avatar for Peggy Monastra

Peggy Monastra

Senior Promotion Advisor, Opera, G. Schirmer Inc./ AMP
Talk with me about new works, commissions, and repertoire of the 20th and 21st centuries!
avatar for Kamala Sankaram

Kamala Sankaram

Composer, Manhattan College
I'm a composer from Brooklyn, NY. I'm interested in diverse and eclectic stories and types of music. I also front a band called Bombay Rickey that combines opera with cumbia, Bollywood, and surf-noir influences.
avatar for Sarah Williams

Sarah Williams

New Works Administrator, Opera Philadelphia
Sarah Williams is a savvy producer and recently named among the top 30 Professionals of the Year by Musical America. She commissions, develops, and explores New Works of the highest artistic aesthetic by presenting innovative programming. Williams identifies extraordinary artists... Read More →
avatar for Kim Witman

Kim Witman

Senior Director, Wolf Trap Opera
Kim has cast and overseen over 50 opera productions ranging from undiscovered baroque gems to commissioned world premieres. Under her direction, the Company earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Opera Recording in 2009, for a live performance CD of John Musto and Mark Campbell's Volpone... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Wednesday May 6, 2015 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon B-D - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, Open

1:30pm EDT

New General Directors Roundtable
The New General Directors Roundtable is a peer learning group consisting of recent appointees to their first general director/chief staff officer positions at companies with budgets between $1 million and $5 million. By invitation. Separate registration required.
Speakers
AO

Ann Owens

Field Consultant, OPERA America
Ann Owens is a performing arts professional whose breadth of management experience and long association with the Houston Grand Opera (HGO) inspires her current work as a performing arts consultant.  From 2006 to 2010 Owens was Executive Director of HGO, where she served as chief... Read More →

Wednesday May 6, 2015 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, New GD

1:30pm EDT

Seminar | Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Please purchase a Seminar to add this to your schedule.
Effective negotiation is an essential leadership skill in opera. Noted negotiations expert KENNETH R. FEINBERG will lead a workshop geared toward opera administrators on practical strategies that can boost your communications and resolve conflicts within your company and with organizational partners. Learn the transferable skills you can apply when preparing for contract talks and working effectively toward co-production agreements. Additional $75 registration fee.

Suggested Resource:
Moderators
avatar for David Levy

David Levy

Vice President of Artistic Operations, Opera Philadelphia

Speakers
avatar for Kenneth Feinberg

Kenneth Feinberg

Founder, Managing Partner, Feinberg Rozen, LLP
Kenneth R. Feinberg serves on the board of trustees of Washington National Opera and is the founder and managing partner of Feinberg Rozen, LLP. He has been key to resolving many of the nation’s most challenging and widely known disputes. Feinberg is known for serving as special... Read More →

Wednesday May 6, 2015 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon F - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Seminar, Open

1:30pm EDT

Seminar | Planned Giving
Please purchase a Seminar to add this to your schedule.
Planned giving can be a powerful fundraising tool that allows patrons to make meaningful contributions to your organization without it costing them a penny now. MAYA WEIL, senior associate, planned giving, for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera, will lead an in-depth workshop on starting a new planned giving program, marketing and building existing ones, stewardship, and making solicitations. This session will include easy strategies for cultivating gifts through retirement assets, wills, trusts and charitable gift annuities. Find out what really motivates donors in this session geared toward development staff, board members and general directors at companies of all sizes. Open to all. Additional $75 registration fee.

Additional Resources:

Presentations:
Speakers
avatar for Maya Weil

Maya Weil

Senior Associate, Planned Giving, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Maya Weil manages the Planned Giving programs for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra. She has been with the Center for over 10 years. She has done consulting work in legacy fundraising for arts organizations... Read More →

Maya Weil Presentation pdf
Wednesday May 6, 2015 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Seminar, Open

1:30pm EDT

Seminar | Taking Charge of Your Message
Please purchase a Seminar to add this to your schedule.
The key to driving demand and cultivating a positive brand image is an integrated communications approach. From relationships with the media to sales and promotions, it’s important to maintain strong and consistent messaging. Yet, in today’s rapidly changing digital communications space, the message can easily spin beyond your control. Whether the cause is an organizational challenge, social media slip-ups or unflattering press reports, be sure that the communications strategy is firmly in your hands. PETER LAMOTTE, the senior vice president and chair for digital communications practice at Levick, will lead an interactive workshop to prepare you to keep your company’s image shining bright. Open to all. Additional $75 registration fee.
Speakers
avatar for Peter LaMotte

Peter LaMotte

Senior Vice President & Chief of Engagement, Levick
Peter LaMotte oversees the digital practice at LEVICK where he services their global client base of corporations, associations, governments, and non-profits. Mr. LaMotte focuses on helping clients build lasting reputations through stakeholder engagement and well executed messaging... Read More →

Wednesday May 6, 2015 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon G - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Seminar, Open

5:15pm EDT

Host Company Welcome Reception
Limited Capacity seats available
Washington National Opera invites all attendees to enjoy a spectacular view of Washington, D.C. from the Kennedy Center terrace overlooking the Potomac River and the capital’s monuments. Delight in drinks and appetizers while networking with your colleagues. New to opera conference? Receive a special welcome at the First-Time Attendee Table, where you can meet OPERA America staff and mingle with other first-time attendees. Open to all full conference registrants.Walk from the hotel to the Kennedy Center by following the conference walking guides through the historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood. Transportation available (limited capacity). Advance registration required. Ticket required.

Suggested Resource:
Wednesday May 6, 2015 5:15pm - 6:45pm EDT
Roof Terrace, The Kennedy Center 2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20566
  Reception, Open

7:00pm EDT

Leadership Intensive Alumni Dinner
By invitation.
Wednesday May 6, 2015 7:00pm - 8:30pm EDT
Marrakech Restaurant 2147 P Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meal, Leadership Intensive

7:00pm EDT

Ambassador Dinner

Meet and greet fellow Trustees and Ambassador Circle members over dinner co-hosted by OPERA America and the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C. Opened in 1989, the building was designed by British Columbian architect Arthur Erickson to evoke the open spaces and waterways that characterize the Canadian landscape. It serves as Canada’s main diplomatic mission in the United States. Transportation provided from Host Company Reception at the Kennedy Center, or travel on own. By invitation. Business attire and photo ID required. 

Please contact Dan Cooperman, director of development, at DCooperman@operaamerica.org for more information about Ambassador events.
Wednesday May 6, 2015 7:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
The Embassy of Canada 501 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20001
  Meal, Ambassador - Dinners & Lunch

7:00pm EDT

Cinderella: Dress Rehearsal
Limited Capacity seats available
Washington National Opera invites all attendees to observe the final dress rehearsal of its whimsical production of Cinderella. Rossini's retelling of the Cinderella story adds a few twists to the classic in a production featuring mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, the 2013 Richard Tucker Award winner, in the title role. Advance registration required. Ticket required.
Wednesday May 6, 2015 7:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Kennedy Center Opera House 2700 F St NW Washington, DC 20566
  Performance, Open

10:00pm EDT

Under 35 Mixer
Limited Capacity seats available
The future of the art form is in the hands of today’s young leaders. Young opera professionals under the age of 35 are invited to meet one another and lay the groundwork for future collaboration. Gather for drinks and networking. Included with full conference registration. Advance registration required. Capacity is limited to 45.
Wednesday May 6, 2015 10:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
Salon F-G - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, Open
 
Thursday, May 7
 

8:00am EDT

Leadership Intensive Roundtable
OPERA America’s Leadership Intensive program identifies the most promising professionals in the field of opera administration and provides them with resources to bolster their leadership capacity and advance their careers. Alumni from 2012–2014 will gather as a peer learning group to further personal leadership development, strategic decision-making and strong professional connections. Open to Leadership Intensive alumni. Separate registration required.
Moderators
avatar for Leah D. Barto

Leah D. Barto

Director of Learning and Leadership, OPERA America
Leah D. Barto is an arts and culture professional specializing in leadership development, arts education, and strategic impact. As director of learning and leadership at OPERA America, she oversees field learning at the annual conference and is the lead administrator for OPERA America’s... Read More →
avatar for Marc A. Scorca

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA
Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO. Under his leadership, the OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. The organization has also administered two landmark funding initiatives in support... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Leadership Intensive

8:00am EDT

New General Directors Roundtable
The New General Directors Roundtable is a peer learning group consisting of recent appointees to their first general director/chief staff officer positions at companies with budgets between $1 million and $5 million. By invitation. Separate registration required.
Speakers
AO

Ann Owens

Field Consultant, OPERA America
Ann Owens is a performing arts professional whose breadth of management experience and long association with the Houston Grand Opera (HGO) inspires her current work as a performing arts consultant.  From 2006 to 2010 Owens was Executive Director of HGO, where she served as chief... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Salon F - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, New GD

9:15am EDT

Opening Session
Limited Capacity seats available
Watch the video >>

Opera Conference 2015 will kick off with a welcome from FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO, artistic director of Washington National Opera, FRAYDA B. LINDEMANN, Ph.D., OPERA America’s board chairman, and RHONDA SWEENEY, president, Opera Volunteers International. MARC A. SCORCA, OPERA America’s president/CEO, presents strategic context for increasing opera’s civic impact and invites renowned mezzo-soprano DENYCE GRAVES-MONTGOMERY to share her perspective on the power of opera to change lives and strengthen communities. The session will close with insightful keynote remarks from ROBERTO BEDOYA, executive director, Tucson Pima Arts Council, that will launch field-wide discussion throughout the conference and beyond.

Suggested Resource:

Presentations:
Speakers
avatar for Roberto Bedoya

Roberto Bedoya

Executive Director, Tucson Pima Arts Council
Roberto Bedoya is the executive director of the Tucson Pima Arts, (TPAC) Tucson AZ, where he has instituted the innovative P.L.A.C.E. (People, Land, Arts, Culture and Engagement) Initiative, a civic engagement/placemaking platform that supports artists’ projects that address critical... Read More →
avatar for Denyce Graves-Montgomery

Denyce Graves-Montgomery

Mezzo-Soprano
Photo Credit: Devon Cass
avatar for Frayda Lindemann

Frayda Lindemann

Chairman of the Board, OPERA America
Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann is vice president of the Metropolitan Opera Association, as well as a member of the executive committee and a managing director of the board. In addition, she is a member of the board and chairman of the executive committee of Young Concert Artists, and she... Read More →
avatar for Marc A. Scorca

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA
Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO. Under his leadership, the OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. The organization has also administered two landmark funding initiatives in support... Read More →
avatar for Rhonda Sweeney

Rhonda Sweeney

Past President/Nominating Chair, Opera Volunteers International
Rhonda Sweeney is Immediate Past President and Nominating Committee Chair of OPERA VOLUNTEERS INTERNATIONAL and is a former President and Lifetime Trustee of the HOUSTON GRAND OPERA GUILD. Rhonda is also a HOUSTON GRAND OPERA Trustee serving on 3 key committees related to fundraising... Read More →
avatar for Francesca Zambello

Francesca Zambello

Artistic Director, Washington National Opera
Francesca Zambello is the Artistic Director of Washington National Opera. She has directed many WNO productions, including Of Mice and Men (debut in 2001), Fidelio (2003), Die Walküre (2003 and 2007), Billy Budd (2004), Porgy and Bess (2005 and 2010), Das Rheingold (2006), Siegfried... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 9:15am - 10:30am EDT
Salon A-E - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  General Session, Open

11:10am EDT

Roundtable: General Directors (Level 1 and Level 2)
These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera. Open to PCM staff only.
Sponsors
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Salon F - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

11:10am EDT

Roundtable: General Directors (Level 3)
These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera. Open to PCM staff only.
Sponsors
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Salon G - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

11:10am EDT

Roundtable: General Directors (Level 4)
These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera. Open to PCM staff only. 
Sponsors
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

11:10am EDT

Roundtable: Singer Training Forum
The Singer Training Forum is comprised of stakeholders in the field of opera, including voice teachers, young artist program managers, opera company administrators and artist managers, among others who are dedicated to the identification and development of aspiring singers. OPERA America Professional Company Members and faculty from Educational Producing Associate Members are encouraged to attend.
Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

11:10am EDT

Roundtable: Technical/Production
These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera. Open to PCM staff only. 
Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Georgetown I - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

11:10am EDT

(Civic) Impact on Fundraising
Civic impact activities can extend the reach of opera companies into their communities — but can they also impact the bottom line with new funding? With a focus on Washington D.C. as a case study, as well as varied perspectives from opera, ballet, and the national funding scene, this session will explore how civic impact and community engagement can lead to new relationships with individual and institutional funders.
Moderators
avatar for Dan Cooperman

Dan Cooperman

Director of Development and Membership, OPERA America
Dan Cooperman, director of development and membership, joined OPERA America in 2015. He previously served as director of development for BalletX, a contemporary ballet company in Philadelphia, from 2012-2015, during which time the company's budget grew by 40%.He graduated from Tufts... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Rose Ann Cleveland

Rose Ann Cleveland

Executive Director, The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
Rose Ann Cleveland is the Executive Director of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.  She joined the Foundation in August 2005, as Program Officer in the arts and humanities, and served as Acting Interim Executive Director from September 2005 until May 2006. With more than... Read More →
avatar for Septime Webre

Septime Webre

Artistic Director, The Washington Ballet
Septime Webre was appointed Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet (TWB) in June 1999 after six years as artistic director of American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey. Much in demand as a choreographer, he has created works that appear in the repertoires of many companies in North... Read More →
avatar for Gae Whitener

Gae Whitener

Director of Development, The Dallas Opera
With a strong background in communications and marketing, Gae Whitener joined the Dallas Opera in 2004 as Grants Manager and Corporate Associate. Her energies soon moved beyond grant writing to handle special projects including OPERAtion HQ, the campaign to construct TDO’s administrative... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Salon D - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:10am EDT

Families in the House
Today’s artists are doing more to balance career and family. Yet, the challenges of having children and bringing family on the road still present obstacles to getting ahead. While companies strive to be more family-friendly for their audiences, learn how they can support artists with families, as well. Hear from administrators, singers and other professionals about planning for and maintaining healthy working relationships between companies and artists with families.
Speakers
avatar for Peggy Kriha Dye

Peggy Kriha Dye

General and Artistic Director, Opera Columbus
Artistic Director Peggy Kriha Dye is responsible for all production staff, and Opera Columbus’ programming, including mainstage productions, Opera on the Edge productions and education and community outreach programs.Also a professional opera singer, Peggy played the title role... Read More →
avatar for Scott Guzielek

Scott Guzielek

Director of Artistic Operations, Palm Beach Opera
Scott Guzielek is Director of Artistic Operations at the Palm Beach Opera where he is responsible for all aspects of artistic planning including the oversight and direction of the Young Artist Program. For seven seasons he was Artistic Administrator of Washington National Opera working... Read More →
avatar for Ian Rye

Ian Rye

CEO, Pacific Opera Victoria
With Pacific Opera Victoria Ian has stewarded the creation of over 50 new opera productions, supported 5 new opera commissions, cultivated an enhancement of artistic scope and scale, and shaped a co-production model that has positioned Victoria-made productions on opera stages across... Read More →
avatar for Jennifer Zetlan

Jennifer Zetlan

Soprano Jennifer Zetlan is swiftly garnering recognition for her artistry and captivating stage presence. She has debuted on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Seattle Opera, Santa Fe Opera and Florida Grand Opera. On the concert stage she has performed with... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Georgetown II - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:10am EDT

Increasing Civic Impact: Structural and Branding Opportunities
Learning and engagement activities are often siloed within an opera company despite the revenue and civic impact they generate. Some opera companies have established distinct departments with their own brand identity to distinguish this work. As increasing community value builds in importance, how are company structures, resource allocations and communication strategies changing? Join a conversation with the company representatives who are implementing leading civic impact activities in the field.

Presentations:
Moderators
avatar for Joe Cremona

Joe Cremona

Director of Finance and Administration, Palm Beach Opera

Speakers
avatar for Sandra Bernhard

Sandra Bernhard

Director of HGOco, Houston Grand Opera
avatar for Michael Bolton

Michael Bolton

Vice President, Community Initiatives, Opera Philadelphia
avatar for Annie Burridge

Annie Burridge

Managing Director, Opera Philadelphia
avatar for Noah E. Spiegel

Noah E. Spiegel

Executive Director, Nashville Opera
I'm an opera producer @NashvilleOpera, lecturer in arts and Stage management, performing arts professional, idea manager, collaborator and conceptual thinker, advocate, perpetual learner, glass half full grown up kid at heart.

Sponsors
avatar for Arts Insurance Program

Arts Insurance Program

Director, Arts Insurance Program
The Arts Insurance Program is the largest insurer of opera companies nationally. Our Opera Insurance Program provides the most comprehensive coverage, at very aggressive pricing. Workers compensation, general liability, volunteer accident, entertainment equipment and other specialty... Read More →
avatar for TRG Arts

TRG Arts

Director of Strategic Communications, TRG Arts
TRG Arts is a data-driven consulting firm that gets revenue results for opera companies and other arts organizations. For the last 20 years, TRG clients have become more sustainable through proven pricing and audience loyalty development strategies.

Thursday May 7, 2015 11:10am - 12:40pm EDT
Salon A-C - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

12:45pm EDT

Ambassador Lunch
Join together after the morning sessions to begin discussing your hot topics over lunch at the Blue Duck Tavern, a classic American restaurant by Executive Chef Ryan LaRoche and Chef de Cuisine Brad Deboy that merges new technology and traditional methods to create bold yet rustic cuisine. Walking departure from Marriott main entrance at 12:40 p.m. or travel on own. By invitation. 

Please contact Dan Cooperman, director of development, at DCooperman@operaamerica.org for more information about Ambassador events.
Thursday May 7, 2015 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT
Blue Duck Tavern 1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meal, Ambassador - Dinners & Lunch

1:00pm EDT

Spotlight: A Perspective on Turnarounds with Ryan Taylor
RYAN TAYLOR, general director of Arizona Opera, presents strategies for addressing financial and organizational challenges. Learn about his thoughts on encouraging creative connections within communities to improve the stability of organizations in the short and long term. 
Speakers
avatar for Ryan Taylor

Ryan Taylor

General Director, Arizona Opera

Thursday May 7, 2015 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Salon D - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

1:30pm EDT

Spotlight: Lean Performing Arts: Startups and New Sustainable Projects
CHRISTINA LOEWEN, executive director of Opera.ca, will outline techniques from the Lean Methodology, including the signature Business Model Canvas. Learn how the opera field can adapt this framework to fast-track new initiatives and encourage innovation. Loewen will share findings from the recent Toronto-based pilot in which new arts projects were developed, and she will lead a discussion to help opera companies apply these strategies in their own organizations. leanperformingarts.com

Suggested Resources:
Speakers
avatar for Christina Loewen

Christina Loewen

Executive Director, Opera.ca
I'm interested in how the arts and culture sector can contribute to social change, address systemic inequities, and help to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund, we are using a data-driven approach to... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

2:00pm EDT

Young Artist Auditions
This session will feature auditions by some of the most promising young voices being nurtured by the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program of the Washington National Opera. Hosted by MICHAEL HEASTON, director, Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, and associate artistic director, The Glimmerglass Festival. Walk through the historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood or travel on your own. Advance registration required. Ticket required.


Speakers
avatar for Michael Heaston

Michael Heaston

Director, Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program & t, Washington National Opera
Michael Heaston is a respected collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and artistic administrator. He is both the Director of the prestigious Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and American Opera Initative, as well as Advisor to the Artistic Director, at Washington National Opera at... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Kennedy Center Opera House 2700 F St NW Washington, DC 20566
  Session, Open

2:30pm EDT

Backed by Education Research: A Case for Opera’s Civic Impact
Research findings demonstrate that arts experiences foster personal creativity, risk-taking, collaboration and empathy in students. These are prized qualities in adults, too. Learn about the latest findings from arts-in-education research and how this information can support the case for opera in broader society.

Suggested Resources:
Moderators
avatar for Sandra Ruppert

Sandra Ruppert

Director, Arts Education Partnership
Sandra Ruppert is Director of the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), which is part of the Council of Chief State School Officers, a Washington DC-based nonprofit and nonpartisan membership organization representing the top leaders of state education agencies. Ruppert leads AEP’s... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for John Abodeely

John Abodeely

Deputy Director, The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
John Abodeely serves at the deputy director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, handling operations, strategy, finance, and program expansion, while supporting major fundraising activities. His expertise includes trans-institutional programs, community and... Read More →
avatar for Ivonne Chand O'Neal

Ivonne Chand O'Neal

Director of Research and Evaluation, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Directs all research and evaluation efforts at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Designs research studies to collect, analyze, and report evidence of the impact of arts and culture on American life on local, national, and international scales. Projects include examining... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Salon F-G - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

2:30pm EDT

Charting the Waters of Retirement Plan Regulation
As the field looks to maintain competitive compensation packages for key personnel, 403(b) pension plans are becoming more common, and plan administrators have the burden of demonstrating good faith compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Learn more about these annual reporting requirements and their impact on your organization now and in the future. In this session, employers will better understand how to navigate responsibilities and practices for compliance with PPA2006 and other regulatory matters.

Presentations:
Speakers
LW

Lori Wright

Principal, Mercer Global
Lori Wright is a principal in Mercer’s DC Consulting Group, located in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia. Wright specializes in providing retirement plan and vendor consulting for not-for-profit and public sector employers, with significant experience in working with 403(b), 401(a... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Arts Insurance Program

Arts Insurance Program

Director, Arts Insurance Program
The Arts Insurance Program is the largest insurer of opera companies nationally. Our Opera Insurance Program provides the most comprehensive coverage, at very aggressive pricing. Workers compensation, general liability, volunteer accident, entertainment equipment and other specialty... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Georgetown I - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

2:30pm EDT

Sharing and Caring: Practices in Lending Production Pieces
Opera companies often lend or rent full productions or pieces of equipment to other organizations, especially opera companies with smaller budgets. Learn about the practical considerations, cost savings and potential liability involved, whether you “a borrower or a lender be.”
Speakers
DF

David Foti

Production Director, Washington National Opera
PL

Perryn Leech

Managing Director, Houston Grand Opera
General Director, Houston Grand Opera
avatar for Robert Schaub

Robert Schaub

Technical and Faciltiies Director, Seattle Opera
Robert Schaub has been Seattle Opera’s Technical and Facilities Director for more than 24 years, overseeing much of what an audience sees on stage, including lighting, scenery, and props. In addition, he manages the company’s facilities and operations, and played a key role in... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Salon D - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

2:30pm EDT

Strategies for Telefunding
Telefunding still has a viable and valuable place in the fundraising toolbox. Learn from PAUL LARSON, president of TAYLAR Development, about the messaging, training, metrics, management and technology that a company must consider, and how telephone campaigns — small or large, in-house or outsourced — can still be a cost-effective source of development revenue.

Presentations:
Speakers
avatar for Paul Larson

Paul Larson

President, TAYLAR Development
Paul is President of TAYLAR Development, with offices in Chicago and Milwaukee. TAYLAR consults on and manages annual fund and marketing campaigns for non-profit arts and culture organizations exclusively. Through TAYLAR, Larson has developed innovative campaign planning strategies... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

2:30pm EDT

The Road to Results
Utilizing valuable case studies and extensive research, The Wallace Foundation has aggregated a series of nine effective practices for building arts audiences. Using real-world examples from the Wallace Excellence Awards initiative, Lucas B. Held, the organization’s director of communications for The Wallace Foundation, will guide attendees through the practices that successful efforts had in common and identify the challenges they addressed along the way. Following the presentation, join your colleagues in discussion groups to explore ways your organization can benefit from these frameworks. 
Speakers
avatar for Lucas Held

Lucas Held

Director of Communications, The Wallace Foundation
Lucas Bernays Held has been director of communications at The Wallace Foundation since 2002. He leads a team responsible for developing communication strategies that help advance the foundation's efforts to catalyze broad impact through efforts to encourage  the diffusion of effective... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Salon A-C - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

4:00pm EDT

Exhibitor Happy Hour
Join us for a celebration of the Business Members and exhibitors that provide essential services to the field and enrich the conference.
Thursday May 7, 2015 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Ballroom Foyer - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Reception, Open

4:00pm EDT

Director-Designer Showcase
Watch the video >>

See production presentations from the most promising young director-designer teams and meet the artists who created them. The Robert L. B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase is a biennial competition that identifies emerging director-designer teams, each of which has developed a production proposal from a diverse list of American operas. Come see the artists who will advance opera’s multimedia richness in the years ahead. (Made possible by a generous grant from the Tobin Theatre Arts Fund.)

Four Saints in Three Acts (Virgil Thomson/Gertrude Stein)
Mary Birnbaum, director
Grace Laubacher, set designer
Moria Clinton, costume designer
Anshuman Bhatia, lighting designer
Adam Cates, choreographer

Lizzie Borden (Jack Beeson/Kenward Elmslie)
Andreas Hager, director
Kate Noll, set designer
Seth Bodie, costume designer
Solomon Weisbard, lighting designer

Three Decembers (Jake Heggie/Gene Scheer)
Joshua Miller, director
William Anderson, set designer
Hope Bennett, costume designer
Stephanie Busing, projection designer

The Cradle Will Rock (Marc Blitzstein)
Alison Moritz, director
Charles Murdock Lucas, set designer
Dina Perez, costume designer
Kyle Grant, lighting designer
 
Speakers
avatar for Walker Lewis

Walker Lewis

Stage Director, Robert Gilder and Company
Praised by the New York Times for his imaginative staging, Walker Lewis' upcoming and recent work includes the Apprentice Scenes at Santa Fe Opera in 2015, THE THREEPENNY OPERA (Amarillo Opera), THE COMPANION (American Opera Projects/American Modern Ensemble), THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO... Read More →
avatar for Marc A. Scorca

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA
Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO. Under his leadership, the OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. The organization has also administered two landmark funding initiatives in support... Read More →
MW

Mel Weingart

Chairman, Opera San Antonio

Sponsors
RL

Thursday May 7, 2015 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Salon E - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

6:00pm EDT

Opera Volunteers International Grantor’s Reception
Members who have contributed at the Grantor Level or above are invited to this special reception during which this year’s grant winners will be introduced. By invitation.
Thursday May 7, 2015 6:00pm - 7:30pm EDT
Boveda at The Westin Georgetown 2350 M Street NW, Washington, D.C.
  Reception, OVI

6:00pm EDT

Opera Lafayette: Partnership Panel Discussion and Performance
Limited Capacity seats available
RYAN BROWN, founder and artistic director of Opera Lafayette, leads a panel that examines strategies for building artistic partnerships that increase community involvement in exploring masterpieces from the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. The panel will be followed by performances from Kalanidhi Dance and soprano PASCALE BEAUDIN.

This video of Rameau’s Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour, ou Les Dieux d'Égypte by Opera Lafayette represents an unusual confluence of discovery — a modern American premiere of a major work by the greatest composer of opera in 18th-century France, and a collaboration between three dance companies and three director-choreographers. Come join a panel where “new” historical repertoire, different approaches to this repertoire and new possibilities for collaboration will be discussed by a varied group of conductors, choreographers and directors. Musical and dance excerpts from two 18th- and 19th-century modern premieres will be included in the panel discussion.

The Cosmos Club is housed in the historic Hillyer House, constructed in 1873 by Curtis Justin Hillyer and later redesigned by the famed architecture firm Carrère and Hastings. The Cosmos Club is a private social club for men and women distinguished in science, literature and the arts. The elegant Beaux-Arts structure, constructed of Indiana limestone, is set amid the fragrance of ancient wisteria and magnolia trees. We are thrilled with the opportunity to present this panel discussion and performance in the baroque Warne Lounge, originally built as the residence’s ballroom.

Guests in this magnificent belle époque home are required to observe a formal dress code consisting of jacket and tie for men, and suits or clothing of equivalent formality for women. Jeans, denim, T-shirts, and athletic clothing and footwear are not permitted.

Walk from the hotel by following conference walking guides or travel on own.
Moderators
avatar for Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown

Conductor and Artistic Director, Opera Lafayette
Ryan Brown is the founder, conductor, and artistic director of Opera Lafayette. Through his work with Opera Lafayette, Brown has gained an international reputation for his interpretations of French opera and for his role in the revival of significant works from 18th and 19th centuries... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Pascale Beaudin

Pascale Beaudin

Soprano
Canadian soprano Pascale Beaudin began her career at the Opéra de Montréal, in the roles of Zerlina (Don Giovanni, Mozart) and Oscar (Un ballo in maschera, Verdi).  She has also sung Papagena (Die Zauberflöte, Mozart) with Opera Lyra Ottawa. Making her début as Nannetta (Falstaff... Read More →
avatar for Seán Curran

Seán Curran

Artistic Director, Seán Curran Company
Seán Curran began his dance training with traditional Irish step dancing as a young boy in Boston, Massachusetts and went on to make his mark on the dance world as a leading dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company (1983 – 1993) and as a performer in the original... Read More →
avatar for Martin Pearlman

Martin Pearlman

Founder and Music Director, Boston Baroque
An international conductor known for his crisp communicative skills, Pearlman is also a highly regarded scholar, composer and an acclaimed three-time Grammy ­nominated recording artist. He is the founder and music director of the Boston Baroque, a Boston, Massachusetts-based ensemble... Read More →
avatar for Mark Streshinsky

Mark Streshinsky

General Director, West Edge Opera
Mark Streshinsky has created many productions for West Edge Opera, starting in 2003 with Eugene Onegin and continuing with productions of Legend of the Ring, Xerxes, Ariadne auf Naxos and many others. Last season he directed La bohème and The End of the Affair. Nationally, Mark has... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 6:00pm - 7:30pm EDT
Cosmos Club 2121 Massachusetts Ave. Washington, D.C.
  Session, Ambassador

7:30pm EDT

Annual Fund Reception
Enjoy a special, complimentary reception of wine and hors d’oeuvres for OPERA America’s contributing members and special guests.The Cosmos Club is housed in the historic Hillyer House, constructed in 1873 by Curtis Justin Hillyer and later redesigned by the famed architecture firm Carrère and Hastings. The Cosmos Club is a private social club for men and women distinguished in science, literature and the arts. The elegant Beaux-Arts structure, constructed of Indiana limestone, is set amid the fragrance of ancient wisteria and magnolia trees. Following Opera Lafayette presentation, or travel on own. By invitation.

Formal attire (suit and tie for men; equivalent for women) required. Jeans, denim, T-shirts, and athletic clothing and footwear are not permitted.

Please contact Dan Cooperman, director of development, at DCooperman@operaamerica.org for more information about supporting OPERA America’s Annual Fund.
Sponsors
avatar for Arts Consulting Group

Arts Consulting Group

President, Arts Consulting Group
The leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, facilities & program planning, and organizational development services for the arts and culture industry. ACG consultants are located in communities throughout North America to best serve the... Read More →

Thursday May 7, 2015 7:30pm - 8:15pm EDT
Cosmos Club 2121 Massachusetts Ave. Washington, D.C.
  Reception, Trustees

8:15pm EDT

Ambassador Dinner
Limited Capacity seats available
Following a special presentation by Opera Lafayette, enjoy a special, complimentary reception of wine and hors d’oeuvres for OPERA America’s contributing members and special guests. Then stay for a private Trustee and Ambassador Circle dinner in the Member Dining Room of the Cosmos Club. The Cosmos Club is housed in the historic Hillyer House, constructed in 1873 by Curtis Justin Hillyer and later redesigned by the famed architecture firm Carrère and Hastings. The Cosmos Club is a private social club for men and women distinguished in science, literature and the arts. The elegant Beaux-Arts structure, constructed of Indiana limestone, is set amid the fragrance of ancient wisteria and magnolia trees. By invitation.


Formal attire (suit and tie for men; equivalent for women) required. Jeans, denim, T-shirts, and athletic clothing and footwear are not permitted.

Please contact Dan Cooperman, director of development, at DCooperman@operaamerica.org for more information about Ambassador events.
Thursday May 7, 2015 8:15pm - 10:00pm EDT
Cosmos Club 2121 Massachusetts Ave. Washington, D.C.
  Meal, Ambassador - Dinners & Lunch

9:30pm EDT

Pub(lisher) Trivia
Limited Capacity seats available
You may know your publisher colleagues, but do you know your opera facts? Come meet and greet our publisher members and try your hand at a round of opera trivia. A fun time to be had by all. Advance registration required. 
Speakers
avatar for Naomi Major

Naomi Major

Producing Associate, Gotham Chamber Opera

Thursday May 7, 2015 9:30pm - 11:00pm EDT
Georgetown I & II - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, Open
 
Friday, May 8
 

8:00am EDT

Leadership Intensive Roundtable
OPERA America’s Leadership Intensive program identifies the most promising professionals in the field of opera administration and provides them with resources to bolster their leadership capacity and advance their careers. Alumni from 2012–2014 will gather as a peer learning group to further personal leadership development, strategic decision-making and strong professional connections. Open to Leadership Intensive alumni. Separate registration required.
Speakers
avatar for Keith Cerny

Keith Cerny

Kern Wildenthal General Director & CEO, The Dallas Opera
Keith Cerny’s career spans music, technology and business. He began studying piano at the age of 10, and made his debut two years later performing Beethoven’s first piano concerto with the Berkeley Youth Orchestra. He subsequently studied Music and Physics at the University of... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Leadership Intensive

8:00am EDT

New General Directors Roundtable
The New General Directors Roundtable is a peer learning group consisting of recent appointees to their first general director/chief staff officer positions at companies with budgets between $1 million and $5 million. By invitation. Separate registration required.
Speakers
AO

Ann Owens

Field Consultant, OPERA America
Ann Owens is a performing arts professional whose breadth of management experience and long association with the Houston Grand Opera (HGO) inspires her current work as a performing arts consultant.  From 2006 to 2010 Owens was Executive Director of HGO, where she served as chief... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Salon F - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, New GD

8:00am EDT

Roundtable: Trustees
These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera. Open to Trustees from Professional Company Members.
Friday May 8, 2015 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Salon G - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable

9:30am EDT

General Session: Reshaping Arts Organizations
Limited Capacity seats available
PHILIP KENNICOTT, the Pulitzer Prize-winning art and architecture critic from The Washington Post, will lead a discussion with executives from other cultural fields about how their institutions have expanded their missions and adapted their organizational structures to increase civic impact. Find out what the opera field can glean from these experiences to further shape the role of opera in local communities.  

Walk from the hotel to the Kennedy Center by following the conference walking guides through the historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood. Limited space is available to those needing transportation. Breakfast is available for purchase at the Kennedy Center Café beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Moderators
avatar for Philip Kennicott

Philip Kennicott

Art and Architecture Critic, The Washington Post
Philip Kennicott is the Art and Architecture Critic of The Washington Post. In 2013 he won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 (criticism) and 2000 (editorial writing). In 2006, he was an Emmy Award nomineeand won the Cine Gol... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Edmund Fleet

Edmund Fleet

Executive Director, Building Bridges Across The River
With over 15 years of education and community development experience, Edmund C. Fleet has been serving as the Executive Director of Building Bridges Across the River, the nonprofit organization that founded and now runs the Town Hall Education Arts and Recreation Campus (THEARC) since... Read More →
avatar for Elizabeth Merritt

Elizabeth Merritt

Founding Director, Center for the Future of Museums
In 2008, Elizabeth Merritt was charged by the American Alliance of Museums with creating the Center for the Future of Museums to help museums understand the cultural, political, economic, environmental, and technological trends shaping the world, and explore innovative ways to help... Read More →
avatar for Richard Reyes-Gavilan

Richard Reyes-Gavilan

Executive Director, DC Public Library
Richard Reyes-Gavilan comes to the DC Public Library system with almost 19 years of public library experience. Before joinng the Library, Reyes-Gavilan worked at the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), the nation’s fifth-largest public library system as measured by population served... Read More →
avatar for Deborah F. Rutter

Deborah F. Rutter

President, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Deborah F. Rutter began her tenure as President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on September 1, 2014. Known for emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and community engagement, she is considered one of the most influential arts administrators in the nation. As... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Terrace Theater, The Kennedy Center 2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20566
  General Session, Open, OVI

11:30am EDT

Opera Volunteers International Roundtable
Limited Capacity seats available
This session will recognize Innovative Projects of Special Merit and grant recipients. Learn more about how these programs were developed and implemented. The successes and lessons learned from these projects will be the springboard for discussion. Find a project that may work for you. Open to OVI members only.
Friday May 8, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Georgetown II - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, OVI

11:30am EDT

Roundtable: Marketing/Public Relations
These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera. Open to PCM staff only. 
Sponsors
avatar for TRG Arts

TRG Arts

Director of Strategic Communications, TRG Arts
TRG Arts is a data-driven consulting firm that gets revenue results for opera companies and other arts organizations. For the last 20 years, TRG clients have become more sustainable through proven pricing and audience loyalty development strategies.

Friday May 8, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

11:30am EDT

New Generations of Donor Engagement
With opera audiences growing older, companies must focus their attention on new generations of support. While development departments may have mastered the appeal to traditionalists and baby boomers, Gen Xers and millennials are looking for something else. Learn about what matters to next gen donors and how to engage them in your company’s civic work.

Presentation:
Moderators
avatar for Erin Sammis

Erin Sammis

Director of Major Gifts, Opera Philadelphia

Speakers
avatar for Yuming Chiu

Yuming Chiu

Associate Brand Manager, Johnson & Johnson
Yuming Chiu spent his early childhood playing music, but never truly began loving the squeaky sounds of his viola until his early teens. Conflicted between a career in music and business, Chiu studied both Music Performance (viola) and Economics at UCLA. After an injury destroyed... Read More →
avatar for Mary Galeti

Mary Galeti

Executive Director and Vice-Chair, Tecovas Foundation
Mary Galeti serves as the Executive Director and Vice-Chair of the Tecovas Foundation. The Tecovas Foundation funds social innovation and entrepreneurship by focusing on building community, leveraging new service models and sustainable economic development both domestically and internationally... Read More →
avatar for Kim Parker

Kim Parker

Director of Social Trends Research, Pew Research Center
Kim Parker is director of social trends research at the Pew Research Center. She oversees research on emerging social and demographic trends, manages major survey projects, and writes and edits reports. Parker was previously the associate director of social and demographic trends... Read More →
avatar for Jill Robinson

Jill Robinson

President and CEO, TRG Arts
Jill Robinson is President and CEO of TRG Arts, a national data-driven consulting firm dedicated to creating sustainable arts and cultural organizations. Under Jill’s leadership, TRG has translated its ongoing study of arts consumer transactions into knowledge that achieves improved... Read More →

Jill Robinson Presentation pdf
Friday May 8, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Salon C - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:30am EDT

Sensory-Friendly Performances
Access to opera means more than lowering ticket prices and producing in alternative venues. This session explores simple accommodations to make performances and dress rehearsals accessible to people with autism and their families. Discover how to create an inclusive environment, offer preparation materials and build important partnerships to engage with audiences that may not otherwise be able to attend a traditional performance.

Suggested Resources:

Presentation:
Speakers
avatar for Roger Ideishi

Roger Ideishi

Program Director and Associate Professor, Occupati, Temple University
Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA, has worked to provide community access and opportunity for children with developmental disabilities. He advises various community and arts organizations to assist with building meaningful learning experiences for children with disabilities and their... Read More →
avatar for Noah E. Spiegel

Noah E. Spiegel

Executive Director, Nashville Opera
I'm an opera producer @NashvilleOpera, lecturer in arts and Stage management, performing arts professional, idea manager, collaborator and conceptual thinker, advocate, perpetual learner, glass half full grown up kid at heart.
JS

Jessica Swanson

Manager, Accessibility, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
avatar for Molly Whalen

Molly Whalen

Director, Development and Communications, The Ivymount School and Programs
Molly L. Whalen is a life-long Washington DC resident and experienced nonprofit leader. She served as Chair of the State Advisory Panel for Special Education in the District of Columbia for 5 years, which she was appointed by Mayor Adrian Fenty in 2007; and served on the DC Mayoral... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Georgetown I - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:30am EDT

Strategic Governance
ELIZABETH MERRITT, founding director of the Center for the Future of Museums, will lead a forward-thinking discussion exploring the composition of nonprofit boards and the measurement of civic impact. What are the consequences of the growing gap between the demographics of cultural audiences and cultural leadership? How is technology and culture shaping the expectations of funders and donors?
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Merritt

Elizabeth Merritt

Founding Director, Center for the Future of Museums
In 2008, Elizabeth Merritt was charged by the American Alliance of Museums with creating the Center for the Future of Museums to help museums understand the cultural, political, economic, environmental, and technological trends shaping the world, and explore innovative ways to help... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Salon E - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:30am EDT

Women in Arts Leadership
Limited Capacity seats available
Women are more likely to be the decision-makers when it comes to purchasing tickets, yet women are underrepresented in leadership positions across opera. Learn from prominent women throughout the arts sector about the challenges for achieving greater gender diversity in opera. This session builds on learning from OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Female Composers and explores purposeful action to support women in the field.

Session Summary and Notes:

Suggested Resources:

Moderators
avatar for Laura Lee Everett

Laura Lee Everett

Chief Programs Officer, OPERA America
The Chief Programs Officer for OPERA America, Laura Lee Everett has more than two decades of experience in opera production management, collaborating with some of the most renowned artists in contemporary opera. She has produced the Opera America Songbook (50 commissioned songs for... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jane A. Gross

Jane A. Gross

President, On Site Opera
Supporter of young artists through Chautauqua Opera for many years. Currently a member of the OPERA America Board of Overseers, and the Advisory Board of Ardea Arts/Family Opera Initiative. Also one of the funders for Mohammed Fairouz's new opera, BHUTTO, premiering at Pittsburgh... Read More →
avatar for Laura Kaminsky

Laura Kaminsky

Ambassador/Composer
Composer of AS ONE (co-librettists Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed), the most frequently produced contemporary opera, with two dozen productions since its 2014 premiere at BAM. Currently working on TODAY IT RAINS (also with Campbell and Reed), commissioned by Opera Parallele in collaboration... Read More →
avatar for Anne Manson

Anne Manson

Music Director, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
Hailed by The New York Times as “the conductor of choice for opera” and singled out by Opera News as part of “Opera’s Next Wave”, Anne Manson has come to the forefront as one of the most exciting interpreters of opera in America today. Of her recent performance in Poulenc’s... Read More →
avatar for Martha Richards

Martha Richards

Executive Director, WomenArts
I will be speaking on the Women in Arts Leadership panel. My organization, WomenArts, works to increase the opportunities and visibility of women artists in all art forms.I am the Founder of WomenArts and I am currently celebrating my 20th year as its Executive Director. Prior to... Read More →
avatar for Deborah Sandler

Deborah Sandler

General Director, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Deborah Sandler currently serves as General Director and CEO at Lyric Opera of Kansas City. One of a handful of women to lead opera companies, Ms. Sandler previously served as General Director of Opera Festival of New Jersey, in Princeton, NJ for ten years and then as General Director... Read More →
avatar for Kathryn Smith

Kathryn Smith

General Director, Madison Opera
Kathryn Smith is General Director of Madison Opera, a Vice Chair of OPERA America's Board of Directors, and Chair of the Women's Opera Network Steering Committee. Under her leadership, Madison Opera has expanded its repertoire with twelve company premieres, created a Studio Artist... Read More →
avatar for Francesca Zambello

Francesca Zambello

Artistic Director, Washington National Opera
Francesca Zambello is the Artistic Director of Washington National Opera. She has directed many WNO productions, including Of Mice and Men (debut in 2001), Fidelio (2003), Die Walküre (2003 and 2007), Billy Budd (2004), Porgy and Bess (2005 and 2010), Das Rheingold (2006), Siegfried... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Salon A/B - Washington Marriott
  Session, Open

1:00pm EDT

Annual Business Meeting and Lunch
Professional Company Member official representatives and members of the OPERA America Board of Directors will review important association business, elect members to the Board and recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the field who are celebrating their 10th and 25th anniversaries. No other individual may substitute for the official company representative at this meeting. By invitation only.  
Sponsors
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 1:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Salon D - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, Leadership Intensive, OPERA America Board

1:00pm EDT

Field Trip to WNO Rehearsal Facility and Costume Shop
Limited Capacity seats available
Members of the Technical/Production network are invited to travel to nearby Takoma Park for a dutch-treat lunch at Busboys and Poets followed by a tour of the Washington National Opera's costume shop, storage and rehearsal facility. The network will travel as a group on the Metro, led by Network Chair KAREN QUISENBERRY. Tour hosted by WNO Costume Director MARSHA LEBOEUF. Advance registration required.


Speakers
avatar for Marsha LeBoeuf

Marsha LeBoeuf

Costume Director, Washington National Opera
Marsha M. LeBoeuf has over 35 years of experience in costume design and management, and has been the costume director for Washington National Opera since 1988. In addition to her work at WNO, Marsha is a lecturer at University of Maryland Opera Studio, and has been a has been a guest... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 1:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Busboys and Poets 235 Carroll St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20012
  Meal, Open |   Meeting, Open

2:00pm EDT

Spotlight: Arts Education Updates From the NEA
National Endowment for the Arts staff AYANNA N. HUDSON, director of arts education, and DENISE BRANDENBURG, arts education specialist, will provide updates on the NEA’s recent funding priorities in education. This is also a chance to ask questions and hear about previously funded programs at opera companies.
Speakers
avatar for Denise Brandenburg

Denise Brandenburg

Arts Education Specialist, National Endowment for the Arts
Denise Grail Brandenburg has been an Arts Education Specialist at the National Endowment for the Arts since 2006.  Through the agency’s Art Works: Arts Education grant category, she works specifically with music and opera education projects.  She managed the Endowment's Improving... Read More →
avatar for Ayanna Hudson

Ayanna Hudson

Arts Education Director, National Endowment for the Arts
Ayanna N. Hudson is the director of Arts Education for the National Endowment for the Arts., where she presides over the grant portfolio devoted to arts education, works with national service organizations on policy initiatives, and serves as the spokesperson for arts education at... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

2:00pm EDT

Spotlight: Lunchtime Development Tips
Bring your own lunch and learn from development expert MARILYN SHAPIRO, who will share frequently overlooked ways to increase contributed revenue and improve the productivity of development departments. She will draw on her experience as a consultant and her work at the Metropolitan and Los Angeles Operas to offer strategies for fundraising and board relations.  
Speakers
avatar for Marilyn Shapiro

Marilyn Shapiro

Trustee, Arts Consultant, LA Opera
Marilyn Shapiro’s career spans 45 years of public service, including more than 30 years in senior management positions with the Metropolitan Opera and Los Angeles Opera. Ms. Shapiro, retired from the Metropolitan Opera as Executive Director/External Affairs in 2000, having spent... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Salon F - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

2:00pm EDT

Opera Volunteers International Board Meeting
Limited Capacity seats available
This meeting of the Board of Directors is open to all OVI members who wish to attend.
Friday May 8, 2015 2:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Georgetown II - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, OVI

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable: Artists
Open to all individual artists. This session is the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses issues specific to artists in the field of opera. Do you have a topic to suggest? E-mail Jeff Larson, OPERA America’s artistic services manager, at JLarson@operamerica.org.   
Moderators
avatar for Jeffrey S. Larson

Friday May 8, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable: Development
Open to PCM staff only. These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera.
Friday May 8, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable: Education and Community Engagement
Open to PCM staff only. These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera.
Friday May 8, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon G - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable: Finance, Administration and Human Resources
Open to PCM staff only. These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera.
Sponsors
avatar for Arts Insurance Program

Arts Insurance Program

Director, Arts Insurance Program
The Arts Insurance Program is the largest insurer of opera companies nationally. Our Opera Insurance Program provides the most comprehensive coverage, at very aggressive pricing. Workers compensation, general liability, volunteer accident, entertainment equipment and other specialty... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon A - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

3:00pm EDT

Singer Training Forum Planning Session
Open to members of the Singer Training Forum. In this peer-facilitated discussion, the Forum members will review key takeaways from the previous day’s meeting and continue to explore collaborations with the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the National Opera Association. The Forum will also plan action items for the fall 2015 Singer Training Forum in New York.
Friday May 8, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Georgetown I - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

3:00pm EDT

Artistic Policies Linked to Civic Impact
While decisions lie in the hands of management, the board defines the company’s overarching artistic policy and priorities. As companies seek to vary programming to reach new audiences, traditional policies must change. Learn how companies are navigating through the maze of personal preferences to develop new policies that reflect the rich traditions of the art form and new goals for increasing civic impact.
Speakers
avatar for Keith Cerny

Keith Cerny

Kern Wildenthal General Director & CEO, The Dallas Opera
Keith Cerny’s career spans music, technology and business. He began studying piano at the age of 10, and made his debut two years later performing Beethoven’s first piano concerto with the Berkeley Youth Orchestra. He subsequently studied Music and Physics at the University of... Read More →
avatar for Michael Egel

Michael Egel

General & Artistic Director, Des Moines Metro Opera
Michael Egel of Indianola, Iowa, was appointed General and Artistic Director of Des Moines Metro Opera in 2013 and Artistic Director in September of 2010. He previously served the company as the Artistic Administrator/Director of Education from 1999-2010. Egel joined the Summer Festival... Read More →
avatar for Michael Heaston

Michael Heaston

Director, Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program & t, Washington National Opera
Michael Heaston is a respected collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and artistic administrator. He is both the Director of the prestigious Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and American Opera Initative, as well as Advisor to the Artistic Director, at Washington National Opera at... Read More →
avatar for Adrienne McFarland

Adrienne McFarland

President, Board of Directors, Des Moines Metro Opera
Adrienne McFarland is president of the board of directors of Des Moines Metro Opera and a trustee of the Des Moines Metro Opera Foundation. She has also served as DMMO board secretary and chapter leader of DMMO's volunteer guild.  Adrienne is a practicing attorney, currently employed... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Friday May 8, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon C - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

3:00pm EDT

Marketing Strategy for a New Age
PETER LAMOTTE is the senior vice president and chair for digital communications practice at Levick. His expertise in the latest marketing strategies has helped nonprofits, start-ups and Fortune 500 companies alike. His presentation will provide a fresh take on how opera companies can drive adoption and measure return on investment. In this age of guerilla tactics, grassroots marketing and digital media, learn how to leverage your content and resources for maximum benefit.
Speakers
avatar for Peter LaMotte

Peter LaMotte

Senior Vice President & Chief of Engagement, Levick
Peter LaMotte oversees the digital practice at LEVICK where he services their global client base of corporations, associations, governments, and non-profits. Mr. LaMotte focuses on helping clients build lasting reputations through stakeholder engagement and well executed messaging... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for TRG Arts

TRG Arts

Director of Strategic Communications, TRG Arts
TRG Arts is a data-driven consulting firm that gets revenue results for opera companies and other arts organizations. For the last 20 years, TRG clients have become more sustainable through proven pricing and audience loyalty development strategies.

Friday May 8, 2015 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon B - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

5:00pm EDT

New Works Sampler: Ambassador Package
5:00 p.m. Bus departs from Washington Marriott.
Transportation provided to the Barns at Wolf trap. Snacks and beverages available upon arrival.

6:00 p.m. Welcome from Wolf Trap and New Works Sampler
Kim Witman, senior director, Wolf Trap Opera & Classical Programming Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, welcomes the conference to the Barns at Wolf Trap with a sample from their 2007 Grammy nominated opera Volpone, music by John Musto, libretto by Mark Campbell, featuring alumni of the Filene Young Artist program.

As a part of OPERA America’s core commitment to new work development, the New Works Sampler is a showcase of works in progress and recent premieres. Complementing the New Works Forum, this performance will feature the wide spectrum of musical styles employed by emerging and established composers creating opera today.

2015 New Works Sampler Selections:

An American Dream
Jack Perla, composer
Jessica Murphy Moo, librettist
Submitted by Seattle Opera

Becoming Santa Claus
Mark Adamo, composer and librettist
Submited by G. Schirmer; presented by The Dallas Opera

Bhutto 
Mohammed Fairouz, composer
Mohammed Hanif and Mohammed Fairouz, co-librettists
Submitted by Beth Morrison Projects

Cuentos de Peregrinacion – A Song Cycle Opera
Hector Armienta, composer and librettist
Submitted by Opera Cultura

Ivonne from the opera cycle Ghosts of Crosstown
Nathaniel Stookey, composer
Jerre Dye, librettist
Submitted by Opera Memphis  

7:30 p.m. Bus Departs Wolf Trap
Transportation to dinner provided.

8:15 p.m. Ambassador Dinner
After the evening performance at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, take a seat at the nearby L’Auberge Chez François (332 Springvale Rd., Great Falls, VA), a family-run, classic French restaurant in Great Falls, VA. Led by Chef Jacques Haeringer, son of the establishment’s 1954 founder, L’Auberge was named as one of America’s top 100 restaurants for two years in a row.

Please contact Dan Cooperman, director of development, at DCooperman@operaamerica.org for more information about Ambassador events.

10:00 p.m. Bus departs L’Auberge
Return transportation provided to the Washington Marriott.  
Friday May 8, 2015 5:00pm - 7:45pm EDT
The Barns at Wolf Trap 1635 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA 22182
  Performance, Ambassador

5:00pm EDT

New Works Sampler
Limited Capacity seats available
Watch the video >>

Includes transportation and heavy hors d'oeuvres. 

5:00 p.m. Bus departs from Washington Marriott
Transportation provided to The Barns at Wolf Trap. Snacks and beverages available upon arrival.

6:00 p.m. Welcome from Wolf Trap and New Works Sampler
KIM WITMAN, senior director, Wolf Trap Opera & Classical Programming, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, welcomes the conference to The Barns at Wolf Trap with a sample from their 2007 Grammy-nominated opera Volpone (music by John Musto, libretto by Mark Campbell), featuring alumni of the Filene Young Artist Program. 

As a part of OPERA America’s core commitment to new work development, the New Works Sampler is a showcase of works in progress and recent premieres. Complementing the New Works Forum, this performance will feature the wide spectrum of musical styles employed by emerging and established composers creating opera today.
2015 New Works Sampler Selections:

An American Dream
Jack Perla, composer
Jessica Murphy Moo, librettist
Submitted by Seattle Opera

Becoming Santa Claus
Mark Adamo, composer and librettist
Submited by G. Schirmer; presented by The Dallas Opera

Bhutto 
Mohammed Fairouz, composer
Mohammed Hanif and Mohammed Fairouz, co-librettists
Submitted by Beth Morrison Projects

Cuentos de Peregrinacion – A Song Cycle Opera
Hector Armienta, composer and librettist
Submitted by Opera Cultura

Ivonne from the opera cycle Ghosts of Crosstown
Nathaniel Stookey, composer
Jerre Dye, librettist
Submitted by Opera Memphis


7:45 p.m. UrbanArias Presents: Blue Viola
Blue Viola is a world premiere opera that tells the true story of a junk dealer who steals a priceless viola from a prominent orchestra musician only to discover that the instrument is a fake. The opera features a hilarious libretto by MATT BORESI and a blues-infused score by PETER HILLIARD.

8:15 p.m. New Works Sampler Reception
Refreshments available. Cash Bar. 


9:15 p.m. Bus departs Wolf Trap
Return transportation provided to the Washington Marriott.

Advance registration required. 
Sponsors
avatar for The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Friday May 8, 2015 5:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
The Barns at Wolf Trap 1635 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA 22182
  Performance, Open

7:00pm EDT

Opera Volunteers International Awards Dinner
Please purchase a ticket before adding this event:  OVI Awards Dinner
Advance purchase required ($100). Opera Volunteers International is pleased to present awards to honor groups and individuals for their accomplishments in developing and advancing volunteerism in support of opera. The dinner is open to all OVI members and other interested parties.

Click here to purchase a ticket before adding this event to your schedule.
Friday May 8, 2015 7:00pm - 9:30pm EDT
Morton's The Steakhouse at the Westin Georgetown 2350 M St NW Washington, DC 20037
  Meal, OVI

8:15pm EDT

Ambassador Dinner
After the evening performance at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, take a seat at the nearby L’Auberge Chez François, a family-run, classic French restaurant in Great Falls, VA. Led by Chef Jacques Haeringer, son of the establishment’s 1954 founder, L’Auberge was named as one of America’s top 100 restaurants for two years in a row.

Please contact Dan Cooperman, director of development, at DCooperman@operaamerica.org for more information about Ambassador events.
Friday May 8, 2015 8:15pm - 10:00pm EDT
L’Auberge Chez François 332 Springvale Rd, Great Falls, VA 22066
  Meal, Ambassador - Dinners & Lunch
 
Saturday, May 9
 

8:00am EDT

Leadership Intensive Roundtable
OPERA America’s Leadership Intensive program identifies the most promising professionals in the field of opera administration and provides them with resources to bolster their leadership capacity and advance their careers. Alumni from 2012–2014 will gather as a peer learning group to further personal leadership development, strategic decision-making and strong professional connections. Advance registration required.
Speakers
avatar for Bruce D. Thibodeau, DBA

Bruce D. Thibodeau, DBA

President, Arts Consulting Group
Dr. Bruce D. Thibodeau founded ACG in 1997 and, as its President, has been embedded in numerous projects in all practice areas to grow institutional sustainability, advance the arts and culture sector, and enhance communities served by this vibrant industry. He has guided hundreds... Read More →
CF

Catherine French

Principal, Catherine French Group
MG

Margaret Genovese

Senior Partner, Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates

Saturday May 9, 2015 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Leadership Intensive

8:00am EDT

New General Directors Roundtable
By invitation. Separate registration required.

The New General Directors Roundtable is a peer learning group consisting of recent appointees to their first general director/chief staff officer positions at companies with budgets between $1 million and $5 million. 
Speakers
AO

Ann Owens

Field Consultant, OPERA America
Ann Owens is a performing arts professional whose breadth of management experience and long association with the Houston Grand Opera (HGO) inspires her current work as a performing arts consultant.  From 2006 to 2010 Owens was Executive Director of HGO, where she served as chief... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Salon F - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, New GD

8:00am EDT

Electronic Media Agreement Update
Join MICHAEL BRONSON, OPERA America’s electronic media consultant, to review the Electronic Media Agreement, newly renegotiated with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). Covered will be ways to utilize the new provisions in this agreement — including those relating to news, promotion and fundraising — to advance the opera field. Attendees will also discuss how to approach AGMA and other rights holders to negotiate similar terms so opera companies can fully apply the new AFM provisions. This session is aimed at staff from opera companies with a collective bargaining agreement with an AFM orchestra, including those that subcontract from their local AFM orchestra. 
Speakers
avatar for Michael Bronson

Michael Bronson

Electronic Media Consultant, OPERA America
Michael Bronson has been a member of the symphony/opera/ballet management negotiating committee for national American Federation of Musicians contracts for audio/visual, Internet, sound recording and radio activity for over 35 years. As a television producer and consultant for Houston... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 8:00am - 8:45am EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

9:00am EDT

Civic Health: The Intersection of Opera and Society
Limited Capacity seats available
Watch the video >>

Raising the quality of life is a shared goal among city officials, arts leaders and the general public. Hear from leaders at the forefront of enhancing civic life as they present research-based approaches for motivating participation in society, strengthening communities and engaging the public through opera. 


Suggested Resources:

Presentations:
Moderators
avatar for Marc A. Scorca

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA
Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO. Under his leadership, the OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. The organization has also administered two landmark funding initiatives in support... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jane Chu

Jane Chu

Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
Jane Chu has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June 2014 as the 11th chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. Since 2006, Chu served as the president and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri, overseeing a $413-million campaign to build... Read More →
avatar for David Fraher

David Fraher

President and CEO, Arts Midwest
David Fraher has directed his creative skill to building and leading arts organizations and programs throughout the United States. His primary focus for more than 30 years has been at the helm of Arts Midwest where he serves as president & CEO. Under Fraher’s leadership, Arts Midwest... Read More →
avatar for Jason Schupbach

Jason Schupbach

Director of Design and Creative Placemaking, National Endowment for the Arts
Jason Schupbach is the Director of Design Programs for the National Endowment for the Arts, where he oversees all design and creative placemaking grantmaking and partnerships, including Our Town and Design Art Works grants, the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, the Citizens’ Institute... Read More →
avatar for Ilir Zherka

Ilir Zherka

Executive Director, National Conference for Citizenship
Ilir Zherka, the Executive Director of the National Conference on Citizenship, is a life-long civic engagement activist. Under his leadership, NCoC is working with partners throughout the country to strengthen civic life in America. NCoC is also playing a central role in developing... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Salon A-E - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  General Session, Open, OVI

10:45am EDT

Spotlight: Opera Teens
Learn about a new national initiative to empower high school aged opera fans to pursue their interests, share their passions with others and leverage the power opera to serve local communities. Learn how you can support the next generation of opera lovers and leaders when the program launches next fall. 

Suggested Resources:
Saturday May 9, 2015 10:45am - 11:30am EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

10:45am EDT

Spotlight: Q&A with David Fraher
Meet with DAVID FRAHER following his presentation at the morning General Session to learn more about Arts Midwest and the next phase of Building Public Will for Arts and Culture.
Speakers
avatar for David Fraher

David Fraher

President and CEO, Arts Midwest
David Fraher has directed his creative skill to building and leading arts organizations and programs throughout the United States. His primary focus for more than 30 years has been at the helm of Arts Midwest where he serves as president & CEO. Under Fraher’s leadership, Arts Midwest... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 10:45am - 11:30am EDT
Salon H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:30am EDT

Roundtable: Artistic Administration
Open to PCM staff only. These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera.
Saturday May 9, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Roundtable, Open

11:30am EDT

Grassroots Fundraising
Crowdfunding initiatives have transformed political elections, shifting campaign strategies and our own ideas about civic engagement. RICH MINTZ, executive vice president of Blue State Digital, the digital strategy agency behind President Obama’s election campaigns, will share how these grassroots fundraising techniques translate to the arts. Whether you are producing small-scale projects or managing turnaround efforts at a major companies, learn how to inspire action among a broader base of opera lovers

Presentation:
Speakers
avatar for Rich Mintz

Rich Mintz

Executive Vice President, Blue State Digital
I'm interested in how we can use the arts to catalyze community engagement, and to help mobilize people to get involved in civic life at the neighborhood, city, and national level.

Saturday May 9, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Salon C - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:30am EDT

Internal Metrics for Civic Impact
An opera company’s traditional means for reporting on marketing and development activity do not capture the full scope of the organization’s public service. How can internal metrics and reports be changed to reflect mission-driven goals more accurately? Learn how opera companies can take stock, analyze return on investment and measure progress toward increasing civic impact.

Presentations:
Speakers
avatar for Keith Cerny

Keith Cerny

Kern Wildenthal General Director & CEO, The Dallas Opera
Keith Cerny’s career spans music, technology and business. He began studying piano at the age of 10, and made his debut two years later performing Beethoven’s first piano concerto with the Berkeley Youth Orchestra. He subsequently studied Music and Physics at the University of... Read More →
avatar for David Devan

David Devan

General Director and President, Opera Philadelphia
David B. Devan joined Opera Philadelphia in January 2006 and was appointed General Director of the company in 2011. Since his arrival, David has worked closely with board and administration on strategic planning initiatives and building partnerships within the community and the opera... Read More →
avatar for Evan Hazell

Evan Hazell

Past Chair, Board of Directors, Calgary Opera
After practicing as a petroleum engineer for the first decade of his career, Evan became an energy investment banker.  He spent the next twenty years serving clients in Canada and abroad, conducting equity, debt, and merger and acquisition transactions.  Evan retired from investment... Read More →
avatar for Mary K. Winkler

Mary K. Winkler

Senior Research Associate, Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, The Urban Institute
Mary Kopczynski Winkler is a senior research associate with the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute. Since coming to Urban in 1995, she has been actively involved in various projects focused on strategic planning and assistance in the development of performance... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Arts Insurance Program

Arts Insurance Program

Director, Arts Insurance Program
The Arts Insurance Program is the largest insurer of opera companies nationally. Our Opera Insurance Program provides the most comprehensive coverage, at very aggressive pricing. Workers compensation, general liability, volunteer accident, entertainment equipment and other specialty... Read More →
avatar for Schuler Shook

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers
Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning.  Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Georgetown I - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:30am EDT

Opera’s Audiences: Exciting Ideas
Come learn about the latest innovative projects supported by OPERA America’s grant programs. Building Opera Audiences grants, supported by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, help further groundbreaking projects designed to generate new and more frequent opera attendance. The Opera Fund: Audience Development grants help companies develop deeper relationships with audiences through in-depth learning experiences structured around new and infrequently produced American operas and music-theater works. Company representatives will present their project concepts, including next steps in implementation, and lessons they have learned that can impact the entire field.

Suggested Resources:

Presentations:
Moderators
avatar for Leah D. Barto

Leah D. Barto

Director of Learning and Leadership, OPERA America
Leah D. Barto is an arts and culture professional specializing in leadership development, arts education, and strategic impact. As director of learning and leadership at OPERA America, she oversees field learning at the annual conference and is the lead administrator for OPERA America’s... Read More →
avatar for Patricia Kiernan Johnson

Patricia Kiernan Johnson

Director of Marketing and Communications, OPERA America
Patricia is OPERA America's director of marketing and communications and has been with the organization since October of 2008.For those of you keeping score at home, that means this is her tenth conference: Houston (2009); Los Angeles (2010); Boston (2011); Philadelphia (2012); Vancouver... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Alejandra Valarino Boyer

Alejandra Valarino Boyer

Director of Community Programs, Lyric Opera of Chicago
avatar for Ashley Magnus

Ashley Magnus

Director of Development, Chicago Opera Theater
avatar for Kyle Sircus

Kyle Sircus

Associate Managing Director, Playwrights Horizons
Kyle Sircus is the Associate Managing Director at Playwrights Horizons, the celebrated Off-Broadway producer of new plays and musicals by American writers. In this capacity, he oversees the Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit's marketing, communications, ticketing and institutional advancement... Read More →
avatar for Viswa Subbaraman

Viswa Subbaraman

Artistic Director and Music Director, Skylight Music Theatre
avatar for Arthur White

Arthur White

Audience Engagement Coordinator, Michigan Opera Theatre

Sponsors
avatar for TRG Arts

TRG Arts

Director of Strategic Communications, TRG Arts
TRG Arts is a data-driven consulting firm that gets revenue results for opera companies and other arts organizations. For the last 20 years, TRG clients have become more sustainable through proven pricing and audience loyalty development strategies.

Saturday May 9, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Salon F-H - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

11:30am EDT

Running on Volunteer Power
Stitchers, woodworkers, ushers, docents — volunteers are offering their service to opera in myriad ways beyond fundraising. Learn how companies are effectively tapping into volunteers’ passions, talents and expertise to move the field forward. Hear from robust volunteer programs about how they cultivate, foster and inspire volunteers of all ages.

Presentation:
Moderators
avatar for Laura Lee Everett

Laura Lee Everett

Chief Programs Officer, OPERA America
The Chief Programs Officer for OPERA America, Laura Lee Everett has more than two decades of experience in opera production management, collaborating with some of the most renowned artists in contemporary opera. She has produced the Opera America Songbook (50 commissioned songs for... Read More →

Speakers
BB

Brooks Boeke

Manager, Friends of the Kennedy Center, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
avatar for Marsha LeBoeuf

Marsha LeBoeuf

Costume Director, Washington National Opera
Marsha M. LeBoeuf has over 35 years of experience in costume design and management, and has been the costume director for Washington National Opera since 1988. In addition to her work at WNO, Marsha is a lecturer at University of Maryland Opera Studio, and has been a has been a guest... Read More →
avatar for David Mead

David Mead

Volunteer, Washington National Opera
Growing up in Prairie Village, Kansas (but a few miles from where Joyce DiDonato grew up), I listened to my mother sing in the church choir and was glued to the radio on Saturday afternoon listening to the Texaco Metropolitan Opera broadcasts.  My day job was as a lawyer at the World... Read More →
avatar for Christopher Tombrello

Christopher Tombrello

Vice President / Volunteer, Opera Omaha Craftsman's Guild
I am actively engaged in the management of my opera guild and also volunteer in humble capacities within same. I have a professional background in both adult education and advanced equities trading in the brokerage industry. I am currently semi-retired and have ample time to support... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm EDT
Salon D - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, OVI

2:00pm EDT

Saturday Keynote
Limited Capacity seats available
Watch the video >>

Hear remarks from opera devotee RUTH BADER GINSBURG, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, followed by reflections from ROBERTO BEDOYA, executive director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council. Bedoya will summarize themes that emerged throughout the conference and suggest actions for the field. The host of Opera Conference 2016 will then extend an invitation to one of North America’s most beautiful cities.
Speakers
avatar for Roberto Bedoya

Roberto Bedoya

Executive Director, Tucson Pima Arts Council
Roberto Bedoya is the executive director of the Tucson Pima Arts, (TPAC) Tucson AZ, where he has instituted the innovative P.L.A.C.E. (People, Land, Arts, Culture and Engagement) Initiative, a civic engagement/placemaking platform that supports artists’ projects that address critical... Read More →
avatar for Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice, was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 15, 1933. She married Martin D. Ginsburg in 1954, and has a daughter, Jane, and a son, James. She received her B.A. from Cornell University, attended Harvard Law School, and received her LL.B. from Columbia... Read More →
avatar for Frayda Lindemann

Frayda Lindemann

Chairman of the Board, OPERA America
Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann is vice president of the Metropolitan Opera Association, as well as a member of the executive committee and a managing director of the board. In addition, she is a member of the board and chairman of the executive committee of Young Concert Artists, and she... Read More →
avatar for Marc A. Scorca

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA
Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO. Under his leadership, the OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. The organization has also administered two landmark funding initiatives in support... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 2:00pm - 3:15pm EDT
Salon A-E - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  General Session, Open, OVI

3:30pm EDT

New Works Forum
Limited Capacity seats available
Join the composer-librettist teams for facilitated discussion about the works featured in Friday evening’s New Works Sampler. Learn about their creative process, hear their questions and ask your own. Key publishers in the industry will then offer a tutorial reviewing the steps for commissioning a new work. The New Works Forum is made possible by a generous and deeply appreciated grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Advance registration required. No additional fee. Participation in the Wednesday seminar is not required.

 
Speakers
avatar for Sandra Bernhard

Sandra Bernhard

Director of HGOco, Houston Grand Opera
avatar for Lawrence Edelson

Lawrence Edelson

Founder / Artistic & General Director, American Lyric Theater / Opera Saratoga
Lawrence Edelson is highly respected not only as a critically acclaimed stage director, but also as a visionary company leader who has created programs in the areas of new works development and artist mentorship that have served as models of innovation for opera companies around... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Salon B-C - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Meeting, Open

3:30pm EDT

Board Orientation and Transition Planning
The arrival of new board members and rotation of seasoned ones reaching the end of their terms signals healthy renewal for an organization. Each transition must be managed to ensure both the organization's success and an individual's sense of accomplishment. Learn the practices for smooth orientation and rotation when it comes to passing on institutional knowledge, honoring past contributions, affirming a new group's dynamics and maintaining momentum for effective governance.
Speakers
avatar for Marc A. Scorca

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA
Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO. Under his leadership, the OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. The organization has also administered two landmark funding initiatives in support... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Salon G - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open

3:30pm EDT

Public Speaking Skills Workshop
Effective presentation in front of boards, staff and community groups is a must for today’s civically engaged artists and arts administrators. Overcome fears and learn how to be a confident speaker and representative of your organization.

Please be advised that Ann Timmons’ presentation will be videotaped during this session. Individuals participating may also be videotaped, and by attending, grant permission for excerpts of this session (which may or may not include their likeness and comments) to be used on Ms. Timmons’ website (www.anntimmons.com). Participants who wish to remain unseen will be directed to sit on the off-camera side of the room.

This will be an interactive and hands-on session. Please be prepared to move around. 



Suggested Resources:
Speakers
avatar for Ann Timmons

Ann Timmons

Communications Artist, none
Ann Timmons, Communications Artist, teaches people how to speak so others will listen! Using her background as an actor, director, writer, and teacher, Timmons shares her distinctive approach to presentation skills and communications training, helping each client discover and embrace... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Thomas - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open, OVI

3:30pm EDT

Reflections on Civic Impact
Join a conversation to reflect on this year’s conference theme. How would you describe civic impact in your own words? What does this mean for your work in the opera field and your own community?  Raise your own questions and voice your thoughts on how the field can move forward in this facilitated dialogue.  
Saturday May 9, 2015 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Salon D - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open, OVI

3:30pm EDT

Time Management Skills Workshop
Always feeling tight on time and low on energy? In this workshop geared toward the busy arts administrator, learn the strategies for drawing upon your strengths in order to prioritize your to-do list and enhance your workflow.

Presentation:
Speakers
avatar for Susan Levin

Susan Levin

Principal, Dialogue for Solutions
Susan Levin is a facilitator, trainer, coach and mediator. For more than 25 years, Levin has worked with thousands of employees from nonprofit, corporate and public organizations in the United States and abroad. She focuses on maximizing individual and organizational strengths to... Read More →

Saturday May 9, 2015 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Salon F - Washington Marriott 1221 22nd St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
  Session, Open, OVI

5:30pm EDT

Ambassador Pre-Performance Dinner
Enjoy a three-course pre-performance dinner by Executive Chef Joe Gurner at the Kennedy Center’s Roof Terrace Restaurant, a deco-inspired dining room featuring seasonal dishes brought to life by innovative takes on traditional French cooking. Transportation provided; bus will leave the Marriott promptly at 5:15 p.m. 

Please contact Dan Cooperman, director of development, at DCooperman@operaamerica.org for more information about Ambassador events.
Saturday May 9, 2015 5:30pm - 6:45pm EDT
Roof Terrace, The Kennedy Center 2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20566
  Meal, Ambassador - Saturday at the Kennedy Center

7:00pm EDT

Washington National Opera’s Opening Night Performance: Cinderella
Limited Capacity seats available
Opera conference attendees receive a 10 percent discount.

Rossini's retelling of the Cinderella story adds a few twists to the classic in a whimsical production featuring mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, the 2013 Richard Tucker Award winner, in the title role.

Buy tickets online or mention code “193549” by phone at (800.444.1324) or in person at the Kennedy Center Box Office.

*10% discount only available on Orchestra sections 1-5 and First Tier sections 2-3. Offer subject to availability.  Not valid in combination with any other offer.  Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Service fees may apply.
Saturday May 9, 2015 7:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Kennedy Center Opera House 2700 F St NW Washington, DC 20566
  Performance, Ambassador - Saturday at the Kennedy Center

10:00pm EDT

Ambassador Opening Night Celebration
Following the performance, join WNO and the cast of Cinderella in Box Tier for the Opening Night Celebration with food, drink and a toast to the new production. Return transportation to the Marriott at 11:00 p.m. or travel on own. By invitation. Black tie suggested.
Saturday May 9, 2015 10:00pm - Sunday May 10, 2015 12:00am EDT
Roof Terrace, The Kennedy Center 2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20566
  Reception, Ambassador - Saturday at the Kennedy Center
 
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  • General Session
  • Meal
  • Meeting
  • Performance
  • Reception
  • Roundtable
  • Seminar
  • Session
    • Ballroom Foyer - Washington Marriott
    Blue Duck Tavern
    Boveda at The Westin Georgetown
    Busboys and Poets
    Cosmos Club
    Georgetown I & II - Washington Marriott
    Georgetown I - Washington Marriott
    Georgetown II - Washington Marriott
    Kennedy Center Opera House
    L’Auberge Chez François
    Marrakech Restaurant
    Morton's The Steakhouse at the Westin Georgetown
    Mount Vernon
    Rayburn House Office Building, Room B339
    Roof Terrace, The Kennedy Center
    Salon A - Washington Marriott
    Salon A-C - Washington Marriott
    Salon A-E - Washington Marriott
    Salon A/B - Washington Marriott
    Salon B - Washington Marriott
    Salon B-C - Washington Marriott
    Salon B-D - Washington Marriott
    Salon C - Washington Marriott
    Salon D - Washington Marriott
    Salon E - Washington Marriott
    Salon F - Washington Marriott
    Salon F-G - Washington Marriott
    Salon F-H - Washington Marriott
    Salon G - Washington Marriott
    Salon H - Washington Marriott
    Terrace Theater, The Kennedy Center
    The Barns at Wolf Trap
    The Embassy of Canada
    Thomas - Washington Marriott