Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO, and is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the entire organization. Since that time, OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. An additional 16,000 subscribers now receive a variety of free and fee-based services. A strong advocate of collaboration, Scorca has led several cross-disciplinary projects, including the Performing Arts Research Coalition, National Music Coalition and the First National Performing Arts Convention. Under his leadership, OPERA America has administered two landmark funding initiatives in support of the development of North American operas and opera audiences and launched a $20 million endowment effort in 2000 to create a permanent fund dedicated to supporting new works and audience development activities. The establishment of the Information and Research Service, Artistic Service and Trustee/Volunteer programs has expanded service to the entire field. OPERA America’s relocation from Washington, D.C. to New York City in December 2005 has increased communication and collaboration with and among members both locally and nationally. OPERA America supported the establishment of affiliated Opera.ca (Toronto) and Opera Europa (Brussels) and works closely with both organizations. Scorca has led strategic planning retreats for opera companies and other cultural institutions internationally, and he has participated on panels for federal, state and local funding agencies, as well as for numerous private organizations. He also appears frequently in the media on a variety of cultural issues. Scorca attended Amherst College where he graduated with high honors in both history and music.

Patricia Kiernan Johnson joined the OPERA America staff in October 2008 as the marketing and media manager. Previously, she worked as the marketing manager for Opera New Jersey in Princeton. Johnson earned her B.A. in art history and studio art from Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus and her M.A. in art history from Rutgers University, where she also earned a museum studies certificate. In the course of her art history studies, Johnson worked for the medieval art department at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and for the development and photography departments at The New-York Historical Society.

Traci Schanke joined OPERA America as assistant to the president in December 2005. Schanke previously served as assistant to the vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan School of Music and assistant to the chairman and president of Middleton & Gendron, a public relations and marketing firm. Schanke has appeared as a soloist and chorister with various groups in the New York metropolitan area, including Chelsea Opera, Regina Opera Company, Operesque Classical Concerts, the Grace Church Choral Society, One World Symphony Singers & Ensemble and New York Concert Opera. She has also been featured in master classes with the late Oren Brown and with Barbara Bonney.

José Rincón joined OPERA America in July 2008 as the development coordinator. He is responsible for coordinating stewardship relationships with donors of all kinds, assisting with donor prospect research and providing support for other department staff. A singer at heart, Rincón has performed in productions of The Mikado, The Threepenny Opera, Orpheus in the Underworld and Don Giovanni. Currently, he can be seen performing at Toto Karaoke and Marie’s Crisis. Rincón holds a B.A. in music from S.U.N.Y. Potsdam and an M.A. in arts administration from Florida State University. He is a proud native of Burlington, VT.

In August of 2007, Paul Gosselin joined the OPERA America staff as development coordinator. Originally from Vermont, Paul moved to New York City immediately following high school to attend The School for Film and Television and pursue his life long dream of becoming a soap opera actor. In 2005, Gosselin made his soap opera debut on One Life to Live, posing the question, "And how do you want to do it?" He has since appeared on As the World Turns and in promotional videos for Guiding Light and the 2007 Daytime Emmy Awards. Outside of the office, Gosselin loves to give back to the city that has given him so much; he volunteers through New York Cares. He also considers himself an avid walker and novice runner. Recently, he took part in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's 'Overnight' 20-mile walk, and he ran, and finishing, his first New York City Marathon in 2006.

Susan Schultz, accounting manager, joined the OPERA America staff in October 2003. She came to OPERA America after several years in the finance department of the Washington National Opera and is responsible for OPERA America’s financial transactions and record keeping. She holds an M.A. in comparative literature and a B.A. in international affairs, both from American University, in Washington, D.C.

Research Manager Alexa B. Antopol joined the OPERA America staff in January 2006. Antopol holds a B.F.A. in Production and Stage Management from Emerson College, and an M.L.I.S. and an Archives Certificate from Pratt Institute. She has held production administration positions at Glimmerglass Opera, has been a stage manager for the Juilliard School Concert Office, and has held customer service and operations positions at Rose Brand, one of the nation’s largest theatrical suppliers. Antopol is a member of the American Library Association (ALA) and the Special Libraries Association (SLA); the Theta Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the national library and information studies honor society; the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), an anti-censorship group; and the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), which defends teaching the theory of evolution in public schools.

Evan Wildstein joined OPERA America in November 2007 as manager of education and adult learning programs. His role affords him the opportunity to work with opera aficionados and arts education professionals throughout the country to promote opera education for youth and adults alike. Prior to joining OPERA America, Wildstein worked with the educational outreach divisions of both the Juilliard School and Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. At both organizations he helped implement programs that served students who were underrepresented in the arts. He holds a B.A. in arts management and also performs as a singer-songwriter.

Megan Young, Artistic Services Manager, joined the staff in September 2005. Her duties allow her to have a hand in creating and maintaining OPERA America’s numerous online resources, including Opera Source, North American Works Directory, Online Production Directory, The Opera Fund, Electronic Media Forum and programs for technical/production personnel. Before becoming a part of the OPERA America family, she spent time at Glimmerglass Opera as part of the projected titles and dramaturgy staff. In addition to her endeavors at OPERA America, she has worked with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Spoleto Festival USA, Florida Grand Opera and Gotham Chamber Opera. A graduate of Ithaca College and the Irish World Music Centre at the University of Limerick, she holds a B.M. in voice performance and an M.A. in early music.

Amy Fitterer is the government affairs director for OPERA America and Dance/USA. Prior to joining the OPERA America staff, Fitterer served as the president of Student Advocates for the Arts, a national club committed to engaging students in cultural policy and lobbying. She has held government affairs internships with The Center for Arts Education and Americans for the Arts, and she has performed professionally in both ballet and piano. Fitterer received her ballet training at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in Connecticut. She holds a B.S. in piano performance from Indiana University and an M.A. in arts administration from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Bill Higgins joined OPERA America in January 2007 as director of external affairs. He has worked in the nonprofit sector for a period of just over 25 years. In 1981, Higgins joined the staff of New York City Opera as director of the Opera Guild, with responsibilities that included fundraising, membership development and special events. In similar roles, Higgins went on to join the staffs of the New York Philharmonic (1988), NYU Medical Center (1998) and Literacy Partners (1999). At Literacy Partners, in addition to fundraising, Higgins was also responsible for all communications and public relations activities.

Adam Gustafson began working as the information services director with OPERA America in September 2008. Previously, he taught music and theater in London and at Ohio University while completing the coursework for his Ph.D. in interdisciplinary arts. Gustafson earned an M.M. from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, studying composition under Stacy Garrop and Frank Ferko. His works have been performed by a variety of ensembles, including the Springfield Choral Society and the Chicago Contemporary Choral Ensemble, and by soprano Ashlee Hardgrave. Also a vocalist, Gustafson has performed as a soloist and chorister with a number of performance groups throughout the Midwest.

Kevin M. Sobczyk, Director of Information Technology, has been with OPERA America since the summer of 2004. His responsibilities include maintenance of current hardware, software and the Web site. He is also in charge of implementing new technology in order to broaden OPERA America’s reach to its members and the public at large. Prior to arriving at OPERA America, Sobczyk helped to create a totally paperless bill and legislation drafting system for the state of Ohio that is considered a high-water mark in governmental automation and efficiency. He also led a Research and Design team for XML data retrieval methodologies for state government use. He is an IBM XML certified developer.

Art Director Katherine Ehle joined the OPERA America staff in July 2002. She is responsible for the layout and design of most of OPERA America’s publications, including Opera America magazine. She studied voice at the Crane School of Music and graduated from Ithaca College’s Roy H. Park School of Communications with a B.S. in organizational communication, learning and design.

Larry Bomback joined OPERA America in February 2008 as director of finance and operations. Prior to that, he managed the financial and administrative operations of the New York Youth Symphony. Bomback is also an avid opera scholar. He has published articles in The Musical Times, Musicological Explorations, Opera America, The International Faust Compendium and The Harmonizer, and he has presented lectures in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.

Jonah Nigh, grants and development manager, joined the OPERA America staff in April 2008. He earned his B.M. and M.M. in vocal performance from Lawrence University and New England Conservatory, and his operatic credits include engagements with the Boston Lyric Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Opera Boston and Longwood Opera. Nigh’s featured solo during the Massachusetts Remembrance concert honoring the first anniversary of 9/11 was broadcast on NBC, ABC and Public Television. Prior to joining the OPERA America staff, Nigh served as the artist representative for Elsie Management, the program development associate for the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts, and he was the acting concert coordinator for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. An avid food and wine connoisseur, Nigh earned his level one certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers in San Francisco, CA.