A virtual salon and fundraiser in support of OPERA America’s Mentorship Program for Women Administrators

Saturday, April 9, 2022
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. ET
Presented Live on Zoom

FEATURED KEYNOTE
Nataki Garrett
Artistic Director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival 

PERFORMANCES OF NEW WORK
Johanny Navarro & Tamar-kali
Composers; OPERA America Grant Recipients

GUEST INTERVIEWS

Networking Hangouts (optional)
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

Chaired by Generous Women in Communities Across North America

• Nancy Barton, New York City Chair
• Sue Bienkowski, Long Beach Chair
• Jessica Burton, Columbus Chair
• Kristina Flanagan, Santa Fe Chair
• Laura Kaminsky, New York City Chair
• Gloria Portela, Houston Chair
• Karen Ritz, Denver Chair
• Jeri Sedlar, Sarasota Chair
• Rhonda Sweeney, Houston Chair
• Shoshana Tancer, Phoenix Chair
• Elisabeth J. Waltz, Austin Chair

Are you interested in serving as a regional chair in your community? Learn more.

Empowering Women in Opera

OPERA America’s Mentorship Program for Women Administrators promotes the advancement of women into leadership positions across the field. Established in 2018 with support from the inaugural Backstage Brunch, the program responded to an unfortunate reality: Women are underrepresented in opera’s top positions, especially in larger companies.

The Mentorship Program pairs the field’s most promising women professionals with accomplished opera leaders who can support these protégés in achieving their career goals. Overseen by the Women’s Opera Network, an action group of opera stakeholders dedicated to advancing gender parity, each protégé-mentor pair works together over twelve months, with an orientation meeting at the mentor’s home company and coaching throughout the year. Mentors guide protégés in identifying and overcoming barriers to their achievement.

The 2022 Backstage Brunch will support the next cohort of protégé-mentor pairs, while highlighting stories of female empowerment and advocacy by leading women in opera.

Special Thanks to the Sponsors of the 2022 Backstage Brunch

Backstage Brunch Photos: 2016-2020

Formerly held in-person at our National Opera Center in New York City.