General Director

Opera Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA

About Opera Philadelphia

Opera Philadelphia is at the forefront of the future of
opera.

Since its inception in 1975, Opera Philadelphia has brought
classic, canonical opera to the Philadelphia stage. In recent
years, Opera Philadelphia has also established its reputation as a
hub to incubate, foster, and showcase new works relevant to the
multi-cultural Philadelphia region.

Opera Philadelphia is a hallmark of Philadelphia’s artistic
community and is globally recognized as a leader in classic
artistry, as well as in the development and innovation of the art
form for the 21st century.

Opera Philadelphia’s mission:
• Delivering outstanding productions of traditional and new
repertoire that engage our public and propel our genre
forward.
• Identifying extraordinary artists, both established and emerging,
and provide opportunities for them to create their most imaginative
and inspired work.
• Presenting innovative programming relevant to the multi-cultural
Philadelphia region that broadens and diversifies the opera
audience.

The heart and soul of Opera Philadelphia is its Orchestra and
Chorus, led by Jack Mulroney Music Director Corrado Rovaris
and Chorus Master Elizabeth Braden. The Opera Philadelphia
Orchestra is comprised of musicians from the greater Philadelphia
region, many of whom also play with the Philadelphia Orchestra,
Pennsylvania Ballet, and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. The
Opera Philadelphia Chorus is an all-professional ensemble made up
of singers from the greater Philadelphia region, hailing from many
of the nation’s finest music programs.

As opera has evolved to adapt to a changing landscape and shifting
audiences in recent decades, Opera Philadelphia is leading the
field in honoring the legacy of the art form alongside the
development of new opera. With the launch of the American
Repertoire Program in 2011, Opera Philadelphia solidified its role
as a national leader in the creation of new works. In the time
since, Opera Philadelphia has commissioned or co-commissioned eight
new operas as well as new productions of renowned works. Its new
works practice is anchored by a commitment to fostering a new
generation of opera creators and telling authentic stories. Recent
new works have included the following world-premiere operas:

Breaking the Waves, a chamber opera by composer-in-residence
Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, is based
on the 1996 Academy Award-nominated film by Lars von Trier.
Breaking the Waves was the winner of the 2017 award for Best New
Opera from the Music Critics Association of North America.

We Shall Not Be Moved, a chamber opera by acclaimed composer
and performer Daniel Bernard Roumain, whose work defies
genre, and librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph, an arts activist
known for spokenword performance. The work was described as
“ambitiously interdisciplinary,” by director Bill T. Jones,
who is also renowned as a celebrated choreographer, dramaturge, and
dancer, and was named one of the “Best Classical Music Performances
of 2017” by The New York Times.

10 Days in a Madhouse, an opera from composer Rene Orth
and librettist Hannah Moscovitch, starring Kiera
Duffy (Breaking the Waves) as Nellie, mezzo Raehann
Bryce-Davis in her company debut as Lizzie, and baritone
Will Liverman as Dr. Blackwell. Daniela Candillari
made her company debut at the podium, and Joanna Settle (Sky
on Swings) directed the production. The set was designed by
Andrew Lieberman. Widely acclaimed, 10 Days in a
Madhouse made the Washington Post’s best classical music
of 2023 list – featured at number 1.

Key partners in the development of new works have included the
Apollo Theater, which co-produced We Shall Not Be Moved as
well as
Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD, a chamber opera by composer
Daniel Schnyder and librettist Bridgette A. Wimberly,
starring Lawrence Brownlee as Charlie Parker, and featuring
soprano Angela Brown and baritone Will Liverman.
YARDBIRD marked the first time opera was performed on the
legendary Apollo Theater stage, and the first time Opera
Philadelphia produced in New York. Opera Philadelphia also has a
strong, years-long partnership with the Academy of Vocal Arts
and The Barnes Foundation in fostering emerging artists.

More recently, the 2022-2023 season included a bold take on

La bohème from director and MacArthur “Genius” Yuval
Sharon. The work was co-produced alongside Detroit Opera,
Boston Lyric Opera, and Spoleto Festival USA. Opera Philadelphia’s
institutional funders and supporters have also included the
Allen R. and Judith Brick Freedman Venture Fund for New
Opera, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the John
S. and James L. Knight Foundation, among many others.

In strengthening its commitment to fostering new work, Opera
Philadelphia’s programs include, but are not limited to:

Composer in Residence: Opera Philadelphia is proud to offer
the nation’s first comprehensive, operatic Composer in Residence
program. Funded by the Mellon Foundation, the Composer in Residence
(CIR) program provides a highly individualized professional
development path for today’s most promising opera composers,
selected on a competitive basis. Now in its 11th year, the
well-established program fosters tomorrow’s masterpieces of opera
through individualized creative development. To date, the program
has featured Lembit Beecher, Courtney Bryan, David Hertzberg,
David T. Little, Missy Mazzoli, Andrew Norman, Rene Orth, and
Tyshawn Sorey. Among them, they have been nominated for the
2024 Grammy Awards, are critically acclaimed, have been recognized
with a 2023 MacArthur Fellowship, and lauded as emerging forces
breaking new ground in the opera and classical music
landscapes.

Emerging Artists Program: The Opera Philadelphia stage has a
history as a welcoming environment where rising vocal talents are
nurtured. In celebration of the company’s ongoing commitment to
emerging talent, Opera Philadelphia is strengthening its mission of
cultivating future stars through the Emerging Artists
Program.

Festival O: Opera Philadelphia recently completed its fifth
incarnation of Festival O, which launched in 2017 with the vision
of gathering the many great and diverse aspects of opera into one
experience: stars singing opera’s great compositions in the
historic Academy of Music; world premieres brought to life by some
of today’s great composers and librettists; and an exploration of
what the art form has been and should be in the future.
Simon Boccanegra was recently featured in Festival O23. A
new production with a powerhouse cast, baritone Quinn Kelsey
starred as Simon Boccanegra, alongside sopranos Ana María
Martínez and Jennifer Rowley, who portrayed his
long-lost daughter Amelia.

Known for making world-class opera more accessible and inviting new
audiences, Opera Philadelphia has served as a convener and
connector among Philadelphia’s vibrant artistic and cultural
institutions. Opera Philadelphia’s audiences enjoy its productions
at multiple venues across the city, including, but not limited
to:

Academy of Music: Part of the Kimmel Cultural Campus, this
magnificent 19th century opera house is the oldest venue in the
United States still used for its original purpose. In April 2024,
Opera Philadelphia’s production of
Madame Butterfly will be featured at the Academy.

The Wilma Theater: Beginning as a feminist theater
collective of Philadelphia artists in 1973, the Wilma Theater has
since grown into one of the Avenue of the Arts’ many shining
jewels, and recently presented the World Premiere of 10 Days in a
Madhouse in September 2023.

The Suzanne Roberts Theatre: The Suzanne Roberts Theatre is
a theater on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. The theater opened
in October 2007 and is home to Philadelphia Theatre Company. The
Philadelphia Premiere of Unholy Wars was presented at the Suzanne
Roberts Theatre in September 2023.

In addition to the extraordinary work of its best-in-class,
dedicated staff, Opera Philadelphia success is also intrinsically
tied to union participation. The members, artists, craftsmen, and
craftswomen of the following labor organizations greatly contribute
to the company’s performances:

• American Federation of Musicians, Local 77
• The American Guild of Musical Artists, the union of professional
singers, dancers, and production personnel in opera, ballet, and
concert, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, represents the Artists and
Staging Staff for the purposes of collective bargaining.
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local
8
• Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local 799, I.A.T.S.E.
• Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Union, Local 799,
I.A.T.S.E.
• United Scenic Artists, Local 829, I.A.T.S.E.
• Box Office and Front of House Employees Union, Local B29,
I.A.T.S.E.
• Highway Truck Drivers and Helpers, Local 107, Teamsters

Learn more about Opera Philadelphia at https://www.operaphila.org.

The Opportunity

The Board of Directors of Opera Philadelphia seeks a strong
visionary leader with a passion for opera to take the helm of a
globally recognized, iconic institution and steer it into its next
chapter.

Opera Philadelphia has experienced tremendous success and
recognition on the world stage, creating a wonderful opportunity
for the next leader to build on that momentum as the company
prepares to celebrate its 50th year.

The General Director will be able to help shape Opera
Philadelphia’s future as a leader in opera while overseeing
strategy and operations. The presence of a skilled and experienced
staff will allow the new General Director to exercise vision while
leveraging and empowering the team to deliver on Opera
Philadelphia’s mission.

Five Vice Presidents currently serve as senior management leaders
reporting to the General Manager, alongside a Chief of Staff and
the Jack Mulroney Music Director. Each Vice President is directly
responsible for executing programs and operations, including
artistic operations, community initiatives, development, marketing
and communications, and people operations and inclusion.

In partnership with the Board and staff, the General Director will
deepen engagement with regional and national funders, embrace the
Philadelphia community, and serve as a unifying and stabilizing
force for both new and legacy opera lovers alike.

As a champion of opera and Philadelphia, the General Director will
develop and enhance financial resources as well as the national and
global networks necessary to strengthen Opera Philadelphia’s
position/place as a leading opera company, thereby re-invigorating
the opera landscape to engage, steward, and retain new local
audiences.

The General Director will also work with the leadership and the
Board to set achievable budgets, develop and implement relevant and
innovative plans, and evaluate Opera Philadelphia’s performance
against the strategic goals approved by the Board of
Directors.

Key responsibilities of the next General Director include the
following:

Strategic Leadership and Planning
• Lead strategic and long-range planning.
• Oversee the effective utilization of resources to advance and
support operations alongside the leadership team.
• Provide visionary and compassionate leadership, including
maintain a participatory and collaborative culture that attracts,
retains, and motivates a diverse and talented staff.
• Inspire and support high staff productivity through mentoring and
partnership to maximize staff talents and skills.
• Lead by prioritizing and cultivating shared purpose among staff
and the Board of Directors.
• Explore new avenues of expansion and influence, including
strategic collaborations and partnerships with other
institutions.
• Lead and support the staff in identifying and implementing
strategic initiatives that enhance Opera Philadelphia’s capacity to
serve the Philadelphia region and beyond.
• Facilitate and lead the continued commitment to accessibility,
inclusion, diversity, and racial equity.

Fundraising, External Relations, and Ambassadorship
• Cultivate, inspire and secure leadership gifts, in partnership
with the VP of Development, to support operations, special
projects, audience growth, and campaigns.
• Spearhead cultivation and stewardship efforts with major donors
to secure their support for ongoing mission pursuits, campaigns,
and selected initiatives.
• Provide leadership for marketing and communications activities,
including advertising, public relations, social media, website, and
graphic design.
• Represent Opera Philadelphia to institutional partners, peer
institutions, public and governmental entities, professional
associations, the media, and the general public.
• Promote Opera Philadelphia through public speaking, media
interviews, opinion pieces, social media, and by attending and
participating in industry conferences and events.
• Develop and maintain strategic and collaborative relationships
with community members, organizations, and educational
institutions. Serve and participate on external committees, boards,
and professional organizations, collaborating with local, regional,
national, and international partners, as appropriate.
• Work with elected officials and administrators at the local,
state, and national levels.

Management, Operational, and Financial Stewardship
• Provide ultimate leadership for a major, complex arts
institution, including oversight of an approximately $10 million
annual budget encompassing artistic operations, community
initiatives, development, marketing and communications, and people
operations and inclusion.
• Lead an organization of 30+ full-time employees and provide
direct oversight of the senior leadership team.
• Lead and support the team in developing Opera Philadelphia’s
annual operating budget for Board approval. Ensure the Board is
provided with regular financial reports.
• Oversee activities pertaining to budgetary oversight, expenses,
and revenue management, in addition to all business strategies, in
partnership with the leadership team.
• Provide proactive, creative, and effective leadership related to
earned revenue, ensuring optimal financial performance of all
revenue-generating activities of Opera Philadelphia.

Governance
• Exercise best practices in governance and ethics and in all ways
that will best serve the mission and goals of Opera
Philadelphia.
• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board of Directors,
engaging and coordinating with the Board and its committees, and
adhering to specific responsibilities and authorities of the
General Director as outlined in the By-Laws of Opera
Philadelphia.

Candidate Profile

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this
position, strong candidates will bring many of the following
professional qualifications and personal attributes:

A Visionary and Strategic Leader
The General Director is a visionary, innovative, and strategic
leader able to develop and articulate a vision in alignment with
the mission for the ongoing advancement and sustainability of a
complex arts institution. This leader brings an ability to leverage
the talents of a committed staff and Board to lead strategic
planning and guide implementation and evaluation efforts.

A curious investigator, this leader actively and strategically
seeks out opportunities to listen to and learn from others, develop
partnerships, and build coalitions to advance the mission of the
institution and its strategic priorities. The General Director
recognizes the uniqueness of Opera Philadelphia’s position as a
pillar of leadership in the local community, the Philadelphia
region, and within its national and global sphere of
influence.

A Dynamic Ambassador and Fundraiser
The General Director, through a combination of educational or
artistic background and/or life experiences, believes in and
advocates for the power of opera to improve the lives of
individuals and communities. As Opera Philadelphia’s primary
ambassador, the General Director is an influential leader, capable
of understanding and communicating the value of opera across a wide
range of audiences, including philanthropists and institutional
collaborators, ranging from foundations to corporations and peer
arts organizations. This leader possesses exceptional interpersonal
skills with the ability to build and sustain strong support across
a wide range of constituents, including Opera Philadelphia’s staff,
orchestra and chorus, the Board of Directors, and donors, as well
as with community and audience members.

The General Director brings a natural inclination to the role for
engagement with people to attract new audiences, retain legacy
supporters, identify new funding opportunities, and sustain
programs and operations. An experienced leader, the General
Director will bring a strong track record of success in fundraising
and will be energized by the prospect of partnering with the
development team to identify, cultivate, and steward donors. The
ideal candidate inspires trust and confidence and excels at
developing strategies to continually amplify Opera Philadelphia’s
brand and visibility in the Philadelphia region and beyond. The
General Director brings experience to promote the importance of
access, inclusion, and diversity in all areas of Opera
Philadelphia’s work and convey its importance with authenticity,
sincerity, and passion.

Institutional Leadership and Business Acumen
The General Director brings the ability to set clear priorities,
delegate, and guide investment in people and systems. The ideal
candidate has a proven track record of successful planning and
oversight of an organization with complex operations and ensures
fiduciary responsibility, transparent financial management
practices, and accountability. A natural leader, the General
Director has the ability to inspire staff, the Board of Directors,
donors, partners, and volunteers to work together to achieve new
heights for Opera Philadelphia.

The General Director has an understanding of the needs of
Philadelphia and its audiences. The candidate also brings
demonstrated success building a culture of collaboration and
support, motivating and inspiring others to achieve impact through
creativity, fostering teamwork, and leveraging individual strengths
to meet organizational goals. The General Director possesses the
ability to leverage the talents of a dynamic staff and provide a
productive work environment with professional growth opportunities
that result in team cohesion and camaraderie.

A Passion for Opera Philadelphia’s Mission
Fully embracing the mission, the General Director is a bold
thinker, knowledgeable about or affinitive toward opera and the
arts more holistically. The ideal candidate brings a sincere
passion for opera. The ability to be inclusive, take ownership,
work in partnership with others, and foster a culture of shared
purpose and belonging is critical. Most importantly, the General
Director is known for leading with sincerity and empathy, honesty
and credibility, and the highest levels of personal and
professional integrity and ethics.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary for the role is anticipated to range from $230,000 to
$250,000, commensurate with experience. Opera Philadelphia offers
comprehensive benefits, including medical and dental insurance,
paid parental leave, a retirement match, short- and long-term
disability insurance, life insurance, and a generous paid time off
policy.

Contact

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively
retained for this engagement, which is being led by Chartise Clark
and Stephen Milbauer. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume
by filling out our Talent
Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing
reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities.
If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need
assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected].
If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional
information regarding how to request an accommodation for the
interview process.

Opera Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity Employer and
prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are
committed to the principle of anti-racism and to providing
employees with a work environment free of discrimination and
harassment. Read more about Opera Philadelphia’s Commitment to
Racial Equity here.

About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s
premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since
its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on
mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right
leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable
impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs,
responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities
and around the world.

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on
its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and
is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a
changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach,
with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in
cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of
diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the
firm’s
website.

jeid-93342486990f42119912188bce1ab3c2