Women's Opera Network
OPERA America’s Women’s Opera Network (WON) is an action group of opera professionals from all sectors of the field dedicated to advancing gender equity in the industry.
Women represent more than half of the national population, yet the percentage of women in leadership roles within the field of opera is comparatively small. Founded in 2015, the Women’s Opera Network works to:
- Increase awareness of and discussion about gender parity in the field.
- Create action plans to promote the advancement of talented women.
- Become a source of support for emerging female professionals,
Get Involved
Join OPERA America's Women's Opera Network by enrolling in the WON Listserv for updates on network priorities and activities. Participation in the network is open to anyone affiliated with the opera industry and supportive of the network’s goals. Members can enlist by logging in to their member portal. All others can request access via the online form.
WON Listserv Request Form
You can also share articles, opportunities, and other information with network members on the WON Community Board on Facebook.
WON Community Board
For additional information, contact us at Membership@operaamerica.org.
OPERA America Programs
Pairing the field’s most promising female professionals with opera leaders to support their career goals.
Supports the development of new operas by women directly to individual composers who identify as women, increasing diversity across the field.
Supports the development of new operas by women, advancing the important objective of increasing diversity across the field.
Women's Opera Network Steering Committee
Stacy Brightman
Executive Director, The Ebell of Los Angeles
Veronica Chapman-Smith
Vice President of Community Initiatives, Opera Philadelphia
Christine Goerke
Associate Artistic Director, Detroit Opera
Piper Gunnarson
General Director and CEO, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Cheryl Hickman, Co-Chair
General and Artistic Director, Opera on the Avalon
Shawn Marie Jeffrey
Vice President | Classical & Creatives, UIA Talent
Kristine McIntyre
Stage Director
Katie Preissner
Managing Director, Artistic & Production, Opera San Jose
Deborah Sandler Kemper, Founding Chair and Special Advisor
General Director and CEO, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Diana Solomon-Glover
Composer/Librettist
Krysty Swann
Mezzo Soprano
