Opera Conference 2015

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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:

• People, Land, Arts Culture and Engagement: Taking Stock of the Place Initiative [PDF]

Presentations:

• Marc A. Scorca
• Roberto Bedoya

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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:

• The Arts Connect People and Perspectives By Building Welcoming Communities by Jane Chu [article]
• The Art of Community Wellness. Created for NCoC’s 2012 Civic Data Challenge. [video]
• Building Public Will for Arts and Culture [PDF]

Presentations:

• Ilir Zherka
• David Fraher
• Jason Schupbach 

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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.