Among the international participants are Yalilé Cardona-Alonso (Festival Internacional de Música Clásica de Bogotá, Colombia), Marco Ayala (Teatro Real, Spain), and Silvana Moreno (Teatro del Bicentenario de San Juan, Argentina). The programme participants will convene at OPERA America’s National Opera Center from 31 January to 7 February 2025, for a week of seminars and practical workshops addressing strategic topics, developing essential skills, and fostering international connections.

OPERA America is pleased to announce the 18 participants from around the world selected for the 2025 Leadership Intensive. The programme offers participants an extended professional development experience that strengthens their leadership capacities and advances their careers. It exemplifies OPERA America’s long-standing commitment to identifying and supporting the professional growth of leaders who will drive the future of opera in the years to come. Approximately 10% of all general directors in the field today are alumni of the Leadership Intensive and other professional development programmes from OPERA America.

The 2025 cohort includes 12 participants selected by OPERA America and two participants chosen by each of OPERA America’s partner organisations: the Association for Opera in Canada, Opera Europa, and Ópera Latinoamérica.

2025 Leadership Intensive Participants

United States Participants

• Emily Barber, Director of Production, On Site Opera (New York, NY)
• Matt Cahill, Founder and Director, Hogfish (Portland, ME)
• Megan Carpenter, Senior Manager of Government Affairs and Civic Practice, OPERA America (New York, NY)
• Graham Fandrei, Director of Development, Persad Center (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Siena Forest, Development Officer, Minnesota Opera (Minneapolis, MN)
• Kelsey Holmes, Philanthropy Officer, The Colburn School (Los Angeles, CA)
• Branden C. S. Hood, Director of Education, Detroit Opera (Detroit, MI)
• Shawn Marie Jeffery, Vice President, Classical and Creative, UIA Talent Agency (New York, NY)
• Joanna Latini, Director of Artist Programmes, Palm Beach Opera (West Palm Beach, FL)
• Katherine Powers, Executive Director, Pacific Opera Project (Los Angeles, CA)
• Seiko, Artistic and Executive Director, Opera on Tap Rochester (Rochester, NY)
• Timmy Yuen, Associate Director of Human Resources, San Francisco Opera (San Francisco, CA)

International Participants

• Andrew Adridge, Executive Director, Volcano; Co-Founder, Opera InReach (Toronto, Canada)
• Marco Ayala, Head of International Strategy, Teatro Real (Madrid, Spain)
• Yalilé Cardona-Alonso, Director, Festival Internacional de Música Clásica de Bogotá (Bogotá, Colombia)
• Celia Grau, Sustainability and Special Projects Manager, Opera Europa (Paris, France)
• Jaclyn Grossman, Performing Artist; Programme Manager, Opera 5; Co-Founder/Creator, Likht Ensemble (Toronto, Canada)
• Silvana Moreno, General and Artistic Director, Teatro del Bicentenario (San Juan, Argentina)

The 2025 cohort is the 10th since the programme began in 2012 and was selected from a record 66 applicants through a competitive selection process. Candidates underwent three rounds of evaluation, assessed on their professional achievements, goals, and leadership potential.

“OPERA America is dedicated to cultivating leaders who will drive opera and foster innovation and excellence in the arts around the world”. said Marc A. Scorca, President/CEO of OPERA America. “This 2025 Leadership Intensive cohort will continue to strengthen the opera field for the future”.

The programme participants will meet at OPERA America’s National Opera Center from 31 January to 7 February 2025 for a week of seminars and practical workshops that address strategic topics, develop essential skills, and foster international connections. They will engage in additional professional development activities over the following year, including group coaching sessions, webinars with industry executives, and roundtable discussions at OPERA America’s annual conference in Memphis in May 2025.

James Barbato, a 2021 Leadership Intensive participant and now General Director of Palm Beach Opera, described the experience in one word: “transformative”. Alexis Pert, a 2023 participant, shared: “I came to the Leadership Intensive seeking support and tools to stabilise myself while leading an opera company through a period of significant institutional transition. I left the programme not only with strengthened skills but also with incredible connections and colleagues who have become lifelong friends. It provided me with an international support network, brought me closer to OPERA America, and empowered me as an administrator in ways I could not have imagined”. Pert now serves as Director of Administration at the Producer Academy of Beth Morrison Projects.

For more information about the Leadership Intensive, including a list of programme alumni, visit this link.