Transitions

Lyric Opera of Chicago has hired Kate Brueggemann as chief development officer. She most recently served as senior vice president of development at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo.

John Churchwell has joined Houston Grand Opera as head of music staff after having served in the same role at San Francisco Opera.

Philip Courington, previously development coordinator at Cedille Records, has joined Haymarket Opera as its first director of development.

At New Philharmonic Opera, Karen Dickelman has assumed the position of general manager after having served as personnel manager of the company’s orchestra.

Lisa Muci Eckhoff, formerly executive director of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association in Tennessee, has joined Marble City Opera as managing director.

Conductor, pianist, and educator Gordon Gerrard has joined Manitoba Opera as artistic director.

OPERA America has hired Jennifer Gordon for the newly created role of director of membership. Gordon most recently served as manager of member engagement and community outreach at the Center for Jewish History and before that was OPERA America’s organizational membership manager.

The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance has named Chandler Johnson as artistic director of Dayton Opera. Chandler most recently served as director of the Apprentice Program for Singers at the Santa Fe Opera.

Seattle Opera has named composer Laura Kaminsky and librettist Deborah Brevoort as creative directors of the company’s new-works incubator program, the Jane Lang Davis Creation Lab.

Opera Memphis has named pianist and conductor Donald Lee III as music director. Lee has recently been engaged by companies including Cincinnati Opera, Opera Parallèle, Virginia Opera, and Washington National Opera.

Opera Carolina has appointed Stefano Vignati, previously the company’s music director and principal conductor, as general director.

Kudos

Soprano Amber R. Monroe received Washington National Opera’s 2026 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, which recognizes a young American singer with promise in opera, oratorio, or recital repertoire. The award includes a cash prize, residency, and recital.

At Opera Columbus’ 2026 Cooper-Bing Competition, soprano Tessa McQueen won the first prize of $10,000. Shortly afterward, she received the first-place grant of $15,000 at the 2026 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition.

Tenor Jack Swanson won San Francisco Opera’s Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Emerging Stars Competition in recognition of his house debut as Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville this past summer. The award, which is decided by popular vote, includes a $10,000 prize.

The Dallas Opera named baritone Étienne Dupuis as its Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year for his house debut as Rodrigo in Don Carlo this past spring. The annual award is voted on by the company’s subscribers. ■