Seattle Opera

We're proud to announce that outgoing General Director Christina Scheppelmann is the recipient of the 2024 Leadership in Opera award from the International Opera Awards! 👏 👏👏 With over three decades of leadership experience, this award recognizes Christina's many career achievements across three continents, including her time at Royal Opera House Muscat, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Seattle Opera. In her five-year tenure at Seattle Opera, her leadership acumen carried the company successfully through the challenges of the pandemic, welcomed over 100 artists for their Seattle Opera debuts, and ushered in the world premieres of two brand new, contemporary operas. Please join us in congratulating Christina on this distinguished achievement!

Congrats to our own Director of Programs and Partnership Dennis Robinson Jr. for receiving the 2024 Governor’s Arts and Heritage Young Leader Award! "The Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards celebrate the hardworking, visionary people who make Washington State a world-renowned hub of artistry and culture.” —Karen Hanan, ArtsWA Executive Director Thank you to Governor Jay Inslee and ArtsWA / Washington State Arts Commission and congrats to all the honorees! https://lnkd.in/gCqE92ZG

Introducing this year's cohort of creators in our Creation Lab program! Creation Lab seeks to cultivate the next generation of opera composers and librettists in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Over the course of this season, these creators will develop a 20-minute opera with support from professional composers and librettists, putting their works through a table reading, music workshop, and rehearsal followed by a public performance. Please join us in welcoming this season's cohort of talented composers and librettists: Jeremy Berdin (Composer) Gabriella Garcia (Librettist) Nehemiah Jones (Composer) Max Mabry (Composer) Carolyn Quick (Composer) Raya Tuffaha (Librettist) Ozzy Wagner (Librettist) Grace Ward (Librettist) Read more about the cohort at https://lnkd.in/gXkY3GiU

Auditions for the Seattle Opera chorus this fall! Spread the word! Please visit our website for complete audition details, and apply by October 28 at 5:00 PM at https://lnkd.in/gBKK4saY

We are excited to announce the appointment of James Robinson as Seattle Opera’s next General and Artistic Director. Robinson begins his tenure on September 4, 2024, replacing Christina Scheppelmann, who previously announced her new appointment as General and Artistic Director of Brussels’ La Monnaie/De Munt.    Robinson comes to Seattle from Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL), where he has served as Artistic Director since 2008. During his tenure, he transformed OTSL into one of the country’s most forward-looking opera festivals, commissioning 11 world premieres including Huang Ruo’s “An American Soldier,” and Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” and “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” Robinson also has an extensive experience as a stage director, directing over 75 new productions and over 30 world premieres at the world’s top theaters.    “I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the tremendous staff and board at Seattle Opera. Seattle is an opera town. It has opera in its DNA, and I am honored to be able to build on that rich tradition. I can’t wait to get to work creating art with and for the passionate audiences that have made Seattle Opera into the company it is today,” says Robinson.   General Director Christina Scheppelmann is also excited to be welcoming Robinson to Seattle. “I am very happy that James will be taking the reins of this wonderful company. James has an impressive track record as a stage director and his extensive network will present tremendous opportunities for collaboration. I am sure he will accomplish great things at Seattle Opera, together with this amazing staff and supportive board. Seattle Opera is in good hands.”   Please join us in welcoming James Robinson to Seattle Opera.   Photo: David Jaewon Oh

Seattle Opera is #hiring! We've just posted for a full time Systems Engineer Role. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/guWq9_ZB

Celebrations last night for all of the Puget Sound's incredible business folks under 40 making an impact on our region including our own Dennis Robinson Jr.! Thank you Dennis for all you do for Seattle Opera and our arts community! https://lnkd.in/geJHtgwW

We're very excited to announce that Kenneth Kellogg has been appointed our inaugural Artistic Ambassador! Kenneth will take over for Dr. Naomi André, who concludes her impactful five-year term as our Scholar in Residence at the end of this season. As Artistic Ambassador, Kenneth will serve as a representative of Seattle Opera in the community, engaging with audiences through our various events, as well as advising staff and board on season planning, racial equity initiatives, and community partnerships. Kenneth made his Seattle Opera debut in 2021 as the Commendatore in the filmed version of Don Giovanni, and later returned as The Father in Tazewell Thompson and Jeanine Tesori's contemporary opera Blue, a role that he describes as "a game-changer" for his life and career. In 2023 he took the stage as Fafner in this season's Das Rheingold, and most recently gave a triumphant performance as Malcolm X in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. Beyond his roles on stage, his passion for music and community shines through in his work. "Opera has the power to be a truly community-based art form," he says. "A place where people can see themselves represented in a larger-than-life space, feel comfortable, and feel welcomed. Making opera matter on that level, with every production we mount, will connect us to the humanity of our community." Please join us in congratulating Kenneth and welcoming him to this new role! https://lnkd.in/gA5W6q89

We're proud to share that Director of Programs and Partnerships, Dennis Robinson Jr., has been recognized as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's "40 Under 40" honorees for 2024! This program recognizes work from across sectors including health care, real estate, tech, and the arts. A full story of Dennis’ accomplishments will be published later this spring. Congrats, Dennis!

Last week we welcomed Ashley Costa, cosmetologist and area manager for Disney Cruise Lines, to the Opera Center for a hair and makeup workshop titled “Diversity in Beauty.” The workshop was open to all, and included training on makeup techniques for medium to dark skin tones, tools and products for naturally curly hair, locs, twists, cornrows, and microbraids, and wig preparation techniques for various textured and protective hair styles. Participants learned how to prep textured and protective hairstyles for wig application, which helps singers and performers maintain their personal hairstyle while getting into a stylized look for the stage. This workshop is part of our ongoing efforts to make our industry more inclusive and supportive for all, by making sure staff are trained to style and care for all skin tones and hairstyles.