James Barnett
Artistic Director, Skylark Opera Theatre
Saint Paul, MN

A leading producer of programming in the Twin Cities, James Barnett is dedicated to bringing new and forgotten music to the next generation of audiences. He is the founding artistic director of LOFTrecital and currently serves as artistic director of Skylark Opera Theatre. Barnett has been a featured pianist with many companies and academic institutions across the country, including Des Moines Metro Opera, Minnesota Opera, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Lakes Area Music Festival, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, the University of Minnesota, Grand Valley State University, Up North Vocal Institute, and Opera Neo. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota.

Caitlin Bolden
Director of Artistic Operations, Knoxville Opera
Knoxville, TN

Caitlin Bolden is the director of artistic operations at Knoxville Opera, where she partners with senior leadership to shape and execute the company’s artistic vision and leads the Knoxville Opera Studio, a partnership with the graduate voice program at the University of Tennessee. She has held positions in artistic administration with the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center and Sarasota Opera. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Bolden holds degrees from The Ohio State University and the University of Tennessee. She is an active member of the Knoxville community and recently served as president of Young Professionals of Knoxville.

Richard Gammon
Director of the Opera Maine Studio Artist Program, Opera Maine
Portland, Maine

Richard Gammon, a Filipino American stage director, has directed for Wolf Trap Opera, Detroit Opera, Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre, and Virginia Opera. Acutely interested in contemporary American opera, he has directed the world premieres of Family Style, Kandake, and Black Coffee for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ New Works Collective; The Lake at ArtSounds; and new productions of Bound (Anchorage Opera), Scalia/Ginsburg (Princeton Festival), Buoso’s Ghost (Detroit Opera), and An American Dream (Hawaiʻi Opera Theatre, Virginia Opera, and Opera Santa Barbara). As the director of the Opera Maine Studio Artist Program, Gammon programs and directs almost exclusively contemporary operas, which have included Paul's Case, Rappahannock County, As One, and Rocking Horse Winner. His creative positions have included directing for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, the National Asian Artists Project, and Cleveland Play House; leading workshops for NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program; and serving as creative associate for Seán Curran Company’s Dream’d in a Dream (BAM Next Wave Festival).

Matthew Hrdlicka
Artistic Coordinator, Pittsburgh Opera
Pittsburgh, PA

Matthew Hrdlicka has served as artistic coordinator at Pittsburgh Opera since 2023, overseeing the company’s Resident Artist program and managing principal artist contracting and logistics. He is also the host and producer of The POP: The Pittsburgh Opera Podcast, available on Spotify and Pittsburgh Opera’s YouTube channel. Before joining Pittsburgh Opera, he spent five summers as an administrative intern at Des Moines Metro Opera, supporting artistic operations and daily logistics of the summer festival. Immersed in opera since the age of five, Hrdlicka is a devoted student of the operatic repertoire, with a deep interest in great singers, historic recordings, and vocal traditions. Also trained as a baritone, he holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Louisiana State University and a Master of Music in vocal performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He trained as an apprentice artist at Des Moines Metro Opera.

Zuly Inirio
Founder and Executive Director, Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project
Pittsburgh, PA

Dr. Zuly E. Inirio is an Afro-Dominican soprano, licensed social worker, and cultural strategist whose work lives at the intersection of performance, healing, and diaspora. She made her Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall in October 2025, performing an original program, Cantos de Quisqueya, with Dr. Patricio Molina. She is also the creator of La Voz que Soy, a multidisciplinary reimagining of Poulenc’s La voix humaine that premiered at Kelly Strayhorn Theater in 2025. A TEDx Carnegie Mellon speaker and recipient of the 2024 YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Creativity and Innovation Award, Dr. Inirio is the founder of Instituto Cimarrón and the Afro-Latinx Song & Opera Project, which commissions new works centering Afro-Latin and Afro-Latinx stories. She is a SphinxLEAD and NALAC fellow. Dr. Inirio consults with arts organizations on cultural strategy, equity, and the conditions that make creative work sustainable.

Heather Johnson
Director of Advancement and Partnerships, American Lyric Theater
New York, NY

Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized mezzo-soprano and arts leader with more than 25 years of experience in the field, with a particular focus on contemporary opera. She has created and performed numerous new works and has appeared with leading companies and orchestras across North America, including the Metropolitan Opera, The Dallas Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Austin Opera, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Known for her commitment to developing new repertoire, she has collaborated closely with composers and creative teams to bring innovative operatic works to the stage.

In addition to maintaining an active performing and teaching career, Johnson serves as director of advancement and partnerships at American Lyric Theater, where she leads fundraising and strategic collaborations that support ALT’s nationally recognized program for emerging opera composers and librettists. She also serves as chair of voice at the Wintergreen Music Festival, where she mentors the next generation of singers and artists.

Ella Marchment
Assistant Director of the Artist Diploma in Opera Studies, The Juilliard School
New York, NY

Ella Marchment is an internationally active British Asian opera director, educator, and arts leader whose work focuses on the future of opera through innovation, collaboration, and creating communities. She is assistant director of the Artist Diploma in Opera Studies at The Juilliard School, where she works with emerging professional singers and directors. Her productions have been presented across Europe, North America, and Asia and have received multiple nominations for the International Opera Awards.

Alongside her directing career, Marchment has founded and led several opera organizations, including Helios Collective, Opera Festival of Chicago, and Theatre N16, where she developed new models for producing and presenting opera. She also created #OperaHarmony, a global digital commissioning initiative that brought together more than 100 artists to create and premiere 20 new operas during the pandemic. Marchment regularly speaks internationally on arts leadership, entrepreneurship, and the evolving role of opera institutions.

Susan Miller
General Director, Opera Montana
Bozeman, MT

Susan Miller has served as the general director of Opera Montana since 2022. Since Miller joined the company, Opera Montana has added a school tour that shares Indigenous music and culture, an ongoing Veterans Chorus, and a free ticket program, more than doubling the company’s impact in the state. Opera Montana also initiated a commissioning process for an original operatic adaptation of A River Runs Through It, scheduled to premiere in September 2026. Internally, the board and staff identified their working values, and Miller is proud to be a part of such a values-forward team. She serves on the board of the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts, on the grant review committee of the Montana Arts Council Cultural Trust, and as a mentor with OPERA America’s Mentorship Program for Women Administrators. On the side, she sings with a local funk band and performs in local theater productions. She’s married to Josh and mom to Maya, Truman, and Charlie. 

Kasey Nahlovsky
Development and Events Manager, Hawai‘i Opera Theatre
Honolulu, HI

Kasey Nahlovsky (they/them) is the development and events manager at Hawai‘i Opera Theatre, where they lead donor engagement initiatives and fundraising events supporting music education and performances across the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. Nahlovsky also serves as the associate artistic director of Mosaique Vocal Ensemble, where they develop systems that advance artistic diversity and accessibility. A teaching artist turned arts administrator, Nahlovsky focuses on aligning arts institutions with community care and cultural humility. An antiracist member of OPERA America’s Racial Justice Opera Network, they hold a Master of Music in vocal performance from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Denver.

Andréa Ochoa
Director of Education and Community Impact, Austin Opera
Austin, TX

Andréa Ochoa is a Mexican American arts administrator and soprano based in Austin, Texas. She serves as director of education and community impact at Austin Opera, where she leads strategy and facilitates the company’s robust educational offerings and community partnership initiatives that strengthen both the organization and the unique Austin community. Her work is grounded in creating opportunities for singers and community members to engage with and enjoy the operatic art form. Ochoa is also an alumna of the Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

She earned her Master of Music in classical voice performance and an Advanced Certificate in vocal pedagogy from New York University in 2020, where she also served as an adjunct instructor of voice. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education with a concentration in vocal studies from Oklahoma Christian University.

Dennis Robinson Jr.
Director of Programs and Partnerships, Opera Colorado
Englewood, CO

Dennis Robinson Jr. is an award-winning arts leader and stage director driven by a singular belief: culture as a catalyst. A bold connector and strategic thinker, he creates inclusive cultural experiences that expand audiences and deepen civic impact. As a member of the leadership team at Opera Colorado, Robinson ensures the company’s artistic vision translates into meaningful community impact — building and stewarding relationships across artists, educators, civic leaders, board members, and partners to advance mission-aligned priorities.

Previously, as director of programs and partnerships at Seattle Opera, he led second-stage productions and engagement initiatives that reengaged historically excluded communities and advanced equity goals. His career includes management roles at Palm Beach Opera, City Theatre Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. In 2024, he was named one of Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and received the Governor’s Young Leader Award from the Washington State Arts Commission.

Regina Thiel
Executive Director, Fargo-Moorhead Opera
Fargo, ND

Regina Thiel is executive director of the Fargo-Moorhead Opera, where she leads the organization’s strategic vision, community partnerships, and operational growth alongside Artistic Director Joshua Kohl. Her path to leadership reflects a full-circle journey with the company: She first joined as a chorus member, later served on its board of directors, and stepped into the executive director role in 2025. Prior to nonprofit leadership, Thiel built her career in the corporate world and is grateful for the experience in sales management, finance, and business development she brings into her work in the arts. Her love of community building, storytelling, and live performance ultimately drew her toward this leadership role. She is committed to expanding access to opera and strengthening its role in the community. Outside of work, Thiel enjoys life in Fargo-Moorhead with her husband and toddler son, teaches yoga, and stays active year-round through soccer and snowboarding.

Alyssa Weathersby
Co-Artistic Director and Stage Director, Light Opera Lab
New York, NY

Alyssa Weathersby is a NYC-based opera and musical theater director whose work bridges classical repertoire, new opera, and interdisciplinary performance. With roots as a professional singer, a master’s degree in vocal pedagogy from the New England Conservatory, and over a decade of crafting choreography, she grounds her directing practice in musician-centered storytelling, physical clarity, and collaborative process. She has directed and choreographed productions for Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, Opera in the Heights, Tenet Vocal Artists, Boston Opera Collaborative, Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Early Music Access Project, the New England Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon University, and Prague Summer Nights, among others.

In 2026, Weathersby launches the inaugural season of Light Opera Lab: a new organization dedicated to the development of contemporary comedic and light opera. Alongside her directing career, Weathersby brings significant experience in creative leadership, having previously run Stage Presence, a successful event company producing large-scale experiential work for clients including Google, Epic Games, and Okta. As an educator, she regularly curates curriculum that develops students to fully embody their potential as actor-singers. Weathersby is currently on the faculty at Temple University, is a member of SDC and AGMA, and is committed to mentorship, artist advocacy, and building sustainable, people-centered models for the future of opera.

Mo Zhou
Stage Director; Guest Artistic Director, Opera Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI

Mo Zhou is a Chinese-born stage director whose boundary-pushing work has made her a distinctive voice in opera and theater. In the 2025–2026 season, she serves as guest artistic director of Opera Grand Rapids, directing Byron Au Yong and Aaron Jafferis’ Stuck Elevator and leading a new co-production of Madama Butterfly with Calgary Opera and Arizona Opera. She also debuts with Opera Colorado, directing Madama Butterfly. Previous highlights include the world premiere of The Big Swim, co-produced by Houston Grand Opera and Asia Society Texas; Rinaldo at Minnesota Opera; the critically acclaimed Iphigénie en Tauride with Boston Baroque, praised by Forbes for its digital innovation; La Calisto at The Glimmerglass Festival; and The Diary of John Rabe, which toured to Staatsoper Unter den Linden and Elbphilharmonie. An advocate for young artists, she has taught at the University of Michigan and served as guest faculty at the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Butler Studio at Houston Grand Opera, and the Aspen Music Festival. Zhou is a recipient of the OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors and Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Prize. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and a B.A. from Bowdoin College.

Paula Andino
General Coordinator, Fundación Amigos del Teatro Solís
Montevideo, Uruguay

Paula Andino is a cultural manager based in Montevideo, Uruguay, who holds a master’s degree in public policies and currently serves as coordinator for the Fundación Amigos del Teatro Solís. Her professional background spans cultural production, touring projects, and fundraising across multiple artistic disciplines. Andino has worked in the production of nationwide outdoor cinema tours and international film festivals, as well as coordinating concert tours with musicians in Uruguay, Brazil, and Spain. She spent more than a decade working in production for the Montevideo Jazz Festival through Jazz Tour Uruguay. Her work has focused on building sustainable cultural initiatives and expanding access to the arts through projects in independent theater, music, education, and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Uberta Bonamigo
Coordinator of Strategic Development and External Relations, Teatro Regio di Torino
Torino, Italy

Uberta Bonamigo has served as operational coordinator for strategic development and external collaborations at the Teatro Regio di Torino since June 2025. In this capacity, she created the theater’s strategic development plan and managed institutional relationships. Before moving to Turin, Bonamigo was head of general affairs at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where she led negotiations with institutional, commercial, and media partners and redefined the theater’s relationships with partner organizations. She also oversaw copyright matters, the development of a digital streaming platform, and projects related to sustainability and accessibility. Before joining the performing arts field, Bonamigo graduated with honors in performing arts management from SDA Bocconi and earned a Master of Law from the University of Milan. Fluent in English and French, she is an active member of the Human Resources Forum of Opera Europa.

Dorian Cox
Director, Ensemble Studio, Canadian Opera Company
Toronto, Canada

Dorian Cox is a driven cultural leader specializing in artist mentorship, relationship-building, and equity-driven practices. As director of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, he oversees the career development, artistic training, and recruitment of Canada’s most promising emerging opera artists. In demand for his expertise within the opera sector, he has served as guest faculty at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, a preliminary juror for the Concours musical international de Montréal, a professional consultant for the Highlands Opera Studio, a guest juror at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a guest speaker at the University of Toronto. Cox has participated in the Business/Arts Emerging Leadership Program and the Toronto Arts Council Leaders Lab. He holds degrees from the University of Toronto (B.Mus.) and Boston Conservatory (M.Mus.).

Renee Fajardo
Producer, Sound the Alarm: Music/Theatre; Education Manager, Gateway Theatre
Richmond, Canada

Filipino mezzo-soprano Renee Fajardo is committed to artistic practice that creates belonging for all. She is the education manager at Gateway Theatre and an artistic producer for Sound the Alarm: Music/Theatre. An advocate for Filipino artistry, she released Liham in 2025, a collaborative song cycle project that blends film, music, and digital design to tell stories of the Filipino diaspora. She has performed Liham in concert at the Mise-En Festival in New York and the STAND Festival in Vancouver. An active performer, Fajardo has recently appeared as Flosshilde in Das Rheingold at Edmonton Opera, Jill Banford in The Fox with Opera Unbound, and as a soloist in El Amor Brujo with Turning Point Ensemble. She is also a member of the award-winning ensemble Musica Intima. Fajardo is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the University of Toronto Opera.

Eric Herrero
Artistic Director, Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Eric Herrero, a tenor who has performed nearly 50 roles across Latin America and Europe, is a tourism ambassador for the City of Rio de Janeiro. In February 2022, he became artistic director of the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, where he has developed programming featuring major opera and ballet repertoire, contributing to the return of audiences to Brazil’s leading lyric theater. During his tenure, performances have consistently achieved full houses, with an average attendance of 1,889 per night. Guided by a curatorial vision that values the theater’s permanent artistic ensembles and Brazilian artists, Herrero has worked with his team to reposition the institution within the international circuit through partnerships and co-productions. Under his leadership, the Theatro Municipal rejoined Ópera Latinoamérica, where he serves on the organization’s Ethics Working Group.

Recognized as a leading voice in Brazil’s cultural sector, Herrero is currently in his second term as president of the State Council for Cultural Policy of Rio de Janeiro and was awarded the title of honorary citizen of the city. He holds a degree in cultural production and MBAs in public management and political science.

Florian Köfler
Director of Artistic Planning and Production, La Monnaie
Brussels, Belgium

Florian Köfler, born in Tyrol, Austria, began his musical training as an orchestral musician before pursuing vocal studies in Vienna. He subsequently performed internationally as a bass soloist, including as a member of the Young Artist Program at the MusikTheater an der Wien. In 2020, he transitioned from performance to artistic strategy, bringing his interpretative experience to opera dramaturgy at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. Later, as opera manager of the company, he contributed to the conceptual development of programming and helped shape the house’s artistic profile. Since 2024, he has served as director of artistic planning and production at La Monnaie / De Munt in Brussels, where he oversees artistic processes and collaborates closely with General Director Christina Scheppelmann on long-term programming and casting strategies.