Madison Opera has a new general director: Kathryn Smith, who currently serves as general director of Tacoma Opera. Smith, who starts July 1, looks forward to heading up the robust organization.
"I was intrigued by Madison Opera's breadth of repertoire history - both traditional productions and world premieres - and the possibilities for its future in the wonderful Overture Center," she says. "I also noticed how much Madison residents love their city and care about its arts organizations, which makes it an exciting place to produce opera."
Besides expanding the repertoire, Smith says, "I would also like to build a young artist program and add even more education and outreach activities."
Madison Opera may also soon have a new building, thanks to some astonishing fundraising. In its last fiscal year, the opera nearly doubled its gifts, grants and contributions, to just more than $2 million.
Much of the increase comes from an anonymous donor, to help the company purchase its own quarters. The opera has been searching for downtown space for a year and a half.
