Keynote Address
Thursday, June 10 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Composer Daniel Catán has written four operas: Florencia en el Amazonas, La Hija de Rappacini (Rappaccini's Daughter) and Salsipuedes, A Tale of Love, War and Anchovies; Catán’s next opera, Il Postino, based on the Oscar-winning film, will soon debut at LA Opera. His lyrical, romantic style lends itself particularly well to the human voice, which features prominently in the majority of his works; he has been compared to Debussy, Richard Strauss and Puccini. The transcription of his speech, Composing Opera: A Backstage Visit to the Composer's Workshop, gives insight into his inspirations, influences and epiphanies. Banking on the Private Purse
Thursday, June 10 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The economic landscape is shifting dramatically as recovery begins to replace recession. Will new economic challenges, like inflation, start to exert pressure on our opera companies? Or will the recovery be sustainable and effect positive change? How will these outside forces influence individual, corporate and foundation giving? This session will provide the latest analysis of economic trends and their impact on donors and consumers. Ronald Florance will discuss the economy and markets. Additionally, Florance will shed light on interacting and advising clients on philanthropic goals, drawing on his experience in a private bank setting.

Speaker: Ronald Florance, Wells Fargo Private Bank; Gregory C. Swinehart, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services; Timothy H. Throckmorton, Wells Fargo Private Bank In Conversation: Achim Freyer
Thursday, June 10 from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
Freyer's staging of Der Ring des Nibelungen for LA Opera began last season with Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. His new production of Götterdämmerung will follow in April, followed by three complete presentations of the Ring Cycle in the summer of 2010.

Speakers: Achim Freyer, Director and Designer; Carol Henry, LA Opera (introductory remarks); Yuval Sharon, Director Finding a Better Business Model
Friday, June 11 from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Research confirms that the price of producing opera increases annually at more than twice the rate of the Consumer Price Index. Rising ticket prices help to offset short-term costs, but inhibit long-term audience growth. New works, central to the vitality of opera, are so expensive that most opera companies can afford only an occasional premiere. The recent recession, which reduced the value of endowments and underscored a lack of working capital, gave rise to questions about the viability of our business model in its current form. This session will examine strategies to improve the current business model and explore potential alternative approaches to managing the opera enterprise.

Speaker: David McIntosh, Consultant In Conversation: Plácido Domingo
Friday, June 11 from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m.
OPERA America President and CEO, Marc A. Scorca, will interview the renowned tenor as Mr. Domingo reflects on 40 years of opera in America and where he sees the field in the next 40 years. There will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.

Speakers: Plácido Domingo, LA Opera; Marc A. Scorca, OPERA America; Marc I. Stern, LA Opera (introductory remarks) The New and Unusual: Is it Opera?
Saturday, June 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Opera is thriving — in bars, subways and even swimming pools. New ensembles, many of them led by energetic and entrepreneurial artists, are springing up around the country performing new and unusual works with unconventional productions in outlandish venues. Established opera companies, too, are leaving the opera house to perform a variety of works in different locations to serve broader audiences. Creativity abounds, but is it opera? Do labels matter? Hear what leading producers and artists have to say about a subject that is never without controversy, and take away ideas about how you can play a role in defining the art form.

Speakers: John Conklin, Designer; James Conlon, LA Opera (introductory remarks); David Gockley, San Francisco Opera; David Kasunic, Occidental College (moderator); Andreas Mitisek, Long Beach Opera; Diane Paulus, American Repertory Theater Closing Session
Saturday, June 12 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
American Repertory Theater Artistic Director Diane Paulus is an award-winning director of opera and theater. Paulus has taught at Barnard College/Columbia University and the Yale School of Drama, and was recently appointed Professor of the Practice in Harvard University's English Department.

Additional Speakers: Carol Henry, LA Opera; Marc A. Scorca, OPERA America

Streamlining Artistic Operations
Thursday, June 10 from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.
Successfully managing the artistic operations of an opera company is an art form in itself. From sifting through audition materials to issuing contracts to scheduling coachings, even the simplest tasks can be extremely time-consuming. Fortunately, there are technologies designed to simplify and expedite these processes. This session will explore Web-based resources meant to help artistic administrators manage the myriad details involved with putting on a show.

Speakers: Julie Baron, YAP Tracker; Scott Guzielek, Washington National Opera; Catherine Wadley, ArtsVision; Keith A. Wolfe, Fort Worth Opera Forging Beyond the Premiere
Friday, June 11 from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
New works continue to premiere across North America, but their shelf life is often sadly short, ending after an initial production. The field acknowledges the need for subsequent stagings of seldom-heard, new works to help invigorate the repertoire. But how do opera houses shoulder the burden of remounting so that the works can take hold? In this session, panelists strategize about how to sustain momentum in the life of a new work.

Speakers: Daniel Catán, Composer; Sam Helfrich, Director; Andreas Mitisek, Long Beach Opera; Peggy Monastra, G. Schirmer, Inc.; Kevin Smith, The Minnesota Opera Rethinking Spectacle: Opera as Storytelling
Saturday, June 12 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Spectacle in opera goes back to the deus ex machina, and modern technology raises the stakes for the technical complexity of today's productions. Has competition with other forms of entertainment, including film and television, put an emphasis on spectacle at the expense of music and drama? This session will re-examine opera as a means of telling stories through music and introduce cost-effective ways companies and their collaborators can deliver complete operatic experiences through clear vision, simplification and creativity.

Speakers: Lillian Groag, Director; Alan E. Muraoka, Designer; Kelley Rourke, OPERA America; Francesca Zambello, Director

The Major Gifts Trio
Thursday, June 10 from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.
Major gifts are often the result of collaboration among staff and board. Greg Robertson, Chief Development Officer at Houston Grand Opera, will lead a panel focusing on the roles of the Development Director, General Director and Board Chair. The discussion will address the responsibilities, time management, communications and trust involved in this important threefold partnership. Development staff, general directors and trustees will learn how each of these positions can best support the other in the cultivation of major gifts "friendraising" as well as fundraising.

Speakers: Susan Boren, Spencer Stuart; Greg Carpenter, Opera Colorado; Carol Penterman, Nashville Opera; Greg Robertson (moderator), Houston Grand Opera Online Fundraising
Friday, June 11 from 9:00 from 10:15 a.m.
Online fundraising is on every development professional's mind — how can technology be best used to raise more revenue? This session will discuss how to communicate effectively with donors and prospects to generate contributions online — focusing on both strategy and technology. Lloyd Tanner, LA Opera director of marketing and development operations, will join the discussion representing the specific needs and strategies of opera company fundraising. Attendees will learn how the Internet can help you achieve maximum fundraising success online.

Speakers: Alan Cooke, Convio; Lloyd Tanner, LA Opera Increasing Support from Subscribers, Ticket Buyers and Current Donors
Saturday, June 12 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Your subscribers, single-ticket buyers and current donors are your most important resource for new and increased revenue, especially gifts of $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $25,000 or more. A $50 annual fund donor is sometimes a major gift prospect waiting to be discovered. In this session you will learn how to identify these individuals by analyzing ticket and giving data. Attendees will also learn how to best use board and key staff for donor cultivation and solicitation, particularly with larger gifts. Shapiro, executive vice president of LA Opera, will lead a discussion that is crucial for all who are involved in the pursuit of raised revenue.

Speaker: Marilyn Shapiro, LA Opera

21st Century Education Beyond Technology
Thursday, June 10 from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
21st century education trends are often strongly associated with new technology. But content still matters most, and many skills are taught by and through the arts, regardless of the medium. As the art form comprised of all art forms, opera is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of learners and educators using literature, art, music, theater and dance. Find out in this session how the most successful educators are exploiting opera's interdisciplinary elements to advance not only education about opera, but education in general.

Speaker: Sandra Bernhard, Houston Grand Opera; Robin Lithgow, Los Angeles Unified School District; Dr. Elizabeth C. Reilly, Loyola Marymount University; Bruce Taylor, Washington National Opera Innovation in Assessing and Evaluating Education Programs
Friday, June 11 from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
As diverse as opera productions are, the same is often true for companies' education programs. With a plethora of data and resources available, it is important to use best practices and innovative approaches when assessing both new and old initiatives alike. Representatives from opera companies and the field will discuss design and implementation of effective and efficient program assessment.

Speakers: Treseen McCormick, WestEd; Nicolas Reveles, San Diego Opera; Patti Saraniero, Moxie Research Maximizing Resources in Your Community
Saturday, June 12 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Is your company taking full advantage of your artistic neighbors? Does your local university have singers or designers you might use for productions? Are there educators or teaching artists in your area that can augment your educational programs? Panelists will share experiences and guidance on how maximizing your community resources can create strong partnerships and help your bottom line.

Speakers: Stacy Brightman, LA Opera; Cynthia Campoy Brophy, The HeArt Project; Camille Lombardo, Friends of the Observatory; Kenneth Reinhard, UCLA

M&A, Strategic Cooperatives and Other Opportunities for Expansion
Thursday, June 10 from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.
The topic of mergers always seems to come up during recessions and, too often, many of mergers are done quickly in the hopes of relieving financial distress or filling a leadership void. Rarely do nonprofits seek strategic mergers — in good times or bad — to leverage resources in their community and capitalize on both economies of scale and scope. Representatives from companies directly engaged in strategic cooperatives will share their experience and provide advice for those merely curious, as well as for those ready to look more seriously at expanding their company's reach.

Speakers: William Cole, Cleveland Opera; Melia P. Tourangeau, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera; John Wehrle (moderator), Opera Omaha Relating to Unrelated Business Income: How to Generate New Revenue
Friday, June 11 from 9:00 from 10:15 a.m.
If your company could make substantial returns investing in a for-profit business like a local McDonald's franchise or a boutique hotel, wouldn't you be comfortable paying taxes on the gains? Indeed, as long as your company managed the venture prudently and stayed within IRS regulations, there would be no inherent risks in paying business income taxes on those profits. During this session, learn about the challenges and rewards of deliberately seeking unrelated business income from non-profit professionals with experience managing for-profit ventures.

Speaker: Geri Stengel, Stengel Solutions Managing the Multigenerational Workforce (Network Roundtable)
Saturday, June 12 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
The age gap between the youngest and oldest staff member at an opera company sometimes exceeds 50 years. Indeed, today's workplace often includes four distinct generations, each with their own unique strengths, expectations, motivations and work styles. Without reverting to stereotypes, how should an opera company address and optimize these differences when members of the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millenials are working side-by-side on-stage and behind the scenes?

Speaker: Jody Horowitz, LA Opera Using OPERA America to Identify Best Practices II
Saturday, June 12 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
In January 2010, OPERA America became the first national arts service organization to launch a collaborative survey with the Cultural Data Project. So, now that your company has completed the new form, what’s next? Learn how to generate comparative analysis and trend reports instantly from the CDP Web site, share profile access with board members and key staff, and use OPERA America’s research capacities to tailor 10- and 20-year benchmarking analyses to your company’s unique profile.

Speakers: Larry Bomback, OPERA America; Neville Vakharia, Cultural Data Project

Critics, Bloggers and the Changing Media Landscape
Thursday, June 10 from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.
As newspapers struggle with online versus print formats, journalists too are grappling with the medium as they explore new forms of social expression and new audiences. Join journalists from a variety of outlets for a discussion on the challenges facing the field and what it all means for your relationship with the media.

Speakers: Brian Holt, OutWest Arts; Timothy Mangan, The Orange County Register; Anne Midgette, The Washington Post; Sherry Stern (moderator), The Los Angeles Times; Mark Swed, The Los Angeles Times Rallying Support from Your Local Government and Community
Friday, June 11 from 9:00 from 10:15 a.m.
Opera companies need the support of local and national government and the community in order to survive and thrive. Especially in times of economic difficulty, the fight for funding involves a struggle to legitimize the arts as a necessary and worth cause. During this session, we will discuss ways to address, influence and shape both public perception and governmental policy towards opera companies.

Speakers: Michael Alexander, Grand Performances; Amy Fitterer, OPERA America; Olga Garay, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; Stephen D. Rountree, LA Opera; Laura Zucker, Los Angeles County Arts Commission Getting Inspired for National Opera Week
Saturday, June 12 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
For the second year, the vitality of opera in America will be celebrated during National Opera Week on October 29 to November 7, 2010. The program was established in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Art’s Opera Honors as a way to bring newcomers to the art form by offering a variety of free and accessible activities to the public. During this session, we will answer questions about National Opera Week, discuss innovative ways of participating (whether your organization is in season or not), learn what worked last year and discuss event implementation.

Speakers: Jim DeGood, Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Tracy Galligher, Opera Company of Philadelphia; Julie House, Boston Lyric Opera; Patricia Kiernan Johnson (moderator), OPERA America

Training the Next Generation of Technicians and Production Administrators
Thursday, June 10 from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.
Well-trained, capable technical and production professionals are central to a well-executed opera. But North American opera companies continue to express frustration in identifying talented, proficient technicians and production administrators who are invested in the field. This session will investigate career development options available to production professionals and begin a dialogue to identify field-wide actions that can be taken to ensure that passionate, high-quality production professionals will be a fixture in opera's future.

Speakers: John Avery, The Banff Centre; David Grindle, United States Institute for Theatre Technology; Paul Horpedahl (moderator), The Santa Fe Opera; Marsha M. LeBoeuf, Washington National Opera Conflict Management in the Theater
Friday, June 11 from 9:00 from 10:15 a.m.
Conflicts are a part of daily life at any organization, and opera companies are no exception. Workplace tensions can easily hamper productivity, lower morale and snowball into bigger, unaddressed problems. In this session, straight-talking Sam Culbert, management guru and UCLA professor, will explain why he believes that bullsh*t has become the communication etiquette of choice in Organizational America. He will talk about why straight-talk is so important and what’s required for people to give and receive more of it at work. Participants will be prompted to voice their personal views and to share real-life examples with the goal of learning to engage with each other in more authentic and productive ways.

Speaker: Samuel A. Culbert, UCLA Anderson School of Management Tailoring Co-Productions to Fit Your Company
Saturday, June 12 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
As co-production becomes increasingly popular and essential in the opera field, companies are beginning to realize that a one-size-fits-all approach can pose problems. Must a co-production include all aspects of a production? Can a co-produced set be successfully designed, for example, for both a proscenium and thrust stage? In this session, we take a look at nuts and bolts co-production considerations and discuss elements of thoughtful preparation to lead to the most efficiently executed co-productions possible.

Speakers: John Conklin, Designer; Kevin Ramach, The Minnesota Opera; Robert Schaub (moderator), Seattle Opera; Chris Yates, Opera Australia

Asking the Right Questions the Right Way
Thursday, June 10 from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.
The choices have become harder: How many productions and performances are optimal? What staff positions are essential to stability and growth? Which operas advance the mission and still contribute to the bottom line? Join this discussion on the strategic information that Board members should review before partnering with staff to make the difficult choices critical to the health of the opera company and the community it serves.

Speakers: Gus Blanchard, The Minnesota Opera; Gregory C. Swinehart, Deloitte FAS; Marc A. Scorca (moderator), OPERA America; James Wright, Vancouver Opera Recruiting and Retaining Active Board Members
Friday, June 11 from 9:00 from 10:15 a.m.
Attracting new board members, especially younger ones, presents a perennial challenge. Companies must demonstrate special value in the community, particularly in today's competitive nonprofit environment. This session will explore ways to draw new talent to boards, and create a deeper sense of purpose and accomplishment among board members to ensure satisfaction from inside and outside the organization.

Speakers: Susan Boren, The Minnesota Opera; Arlene Gladstone, Vancouver Opera; Marc A. Scorca (moderator), OPERA America; Bruce Thibodeau, Arts Consulting Group Managing Board Dynamics Through Financial Challenges
Saturday, June 12 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.
Session Description: Board members have felt the impact of the recent recession at home and in their own businesses, leaving little time or energy for the challenges facing the opera company. For long-serving board members, the recession came after a decade of responding to financial challenges. This session will explore how board and staff leaders combat "board member fatigue" and inspire new ideas and fresh energy to advance their companies through difficult financial times.

Speakers: Susan Bienkowski, Long Beach Opera; Jane Robinson, Florida Grand Opera; Marc A. Scorca (moderator), OPERA America; Darren K. Woods, Fort Worth Opera

Opera on Tap
Thursday, June 10 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.
Opera on Tap is a form of cultural and educational outreach, with the mission to promote opera and developing artists by bringing performances to unconventional venues and places. In this session, Opera on Tap’s Anne Ricci will talk about advancing opera in conjunction with professional companies in the community.

Host: Anne Ricci, general managing diva, Opera on Tap The Met: Live in HD in Your Community
Friday, June 11 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
With more than two million tickets sold this season, the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series has changed the operagoing landscape. Many regional opera companies have worked with the Met and local participating theaters to take advantage of opportunities created by the Live in HD series to reach deeper into their own communities, generating exposure and interest for their own programming and educational efforts, and making new connections with their local companies.

Hosts: Lee Abrahamian, director of communications, Metropolitan Opera; William J. H. Chapman, director of development and marketing, Opera Boston; Marsha Drummond, director of educational outreach, Metropolitan Opera; John D. Jones, general director, Opera Birmingham Green Opera
Friday, June 11 from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m.
Opera Cleveland has made a commitment to help the environment, and is considering everything from the construction of sets to how its patrons travel. By using sustainable resources and cutting back on energy use, your company can lighten its carbon footprint and cut costs at the same time. Learn from the company's environmental savvy and find out what you can do in your own community to become greener and cleaner.

Host: William Cole, executive director, Opera Cleveland Music! Words! Opera! in Action
Friday, June 11 from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m.
OPERA America's curriculum series brings opera to children in a fun and interdisciplinary fashion. Vancouver Opera has had great success for many years using the series as a dynamic element of the company's education program. Learn from first-hand experience about the benefits of M!W!O!, how it is implemented and how it can benefit your community. With teacher training workshops coming this summer in the U.S. and Canada, this is a perfect opportunity to find out if M!W!O! is for you.

Host: Michael Grice, director of education, Vancouver Opera Savonlinna Opera Festival's Social Opera Project: Opera by You
Friday, June 11 from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m.
Savonlinna Opera Festival General Director Jan Hultin will offer a glimpse into one of the Finnish company’s most innovative projects, which involves an entire Web community. Savonlinna has launched a Web site to involve the general public in the creation of an opera, from storyline to libretto to composition to production. A steering committee of artists leads the process, and the opera will premiere in Olavinlinna, Finland, in 2012. Join Hultin for a discussion about the potential impact of the project, the process and the pros and cons of inviting the public to participate in opera creation.

Host: Jan Hultin, general director, Savonlinna Opera Holistic Singer Training
Saturday, June 12 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
Holistic singer training takes a multi-faceted approach to the discipline, considering different learning styles, body awareness and improvisation, among many other factors. This session will look at current trends in singer training, the barriers to holistic training in institutional settings, the benefits of this approach and what individuals and communities can do to facilitate a more holistic learning environment for singers.

Hosts: Ann Baltz, opera coach, career coach and artistic director of OperaWorks; Dr. Paula Thomson, professional choreographer and clinical psychologist; Pamela Blanc, Alexander Technique specialist; David Aks, opera conductor and coach; Zeffin Quinn Hollis, stage director and professional opera singer; Kristina Driskill, voice teacher and singer

OPERA America also offers network roundtables for education, marketing, development, finance, artistic and administrative professionals. This is an opportunity for you to bring advice, experience or points of concern to the table with your counterparts. These sessions, listed below, are open only to OPERA America Professional Company Members from an appropriate network.

• Roundtable I: Thursday, June 10 from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m.
  • Artistic
    Moderator: Diane Zola, Houston Grand Opera
  • Development
  • Education
    Moderator: Amy Fitterer, OPERA America
  • Finance/Administration: Roundtable for Tessitura Licensees with Anna Wessely: Stump the Professor!
    Moderator: Anna Wessely, Tessitura
  • Marketing/PR
    Moderator: Tracy Galligher, Opera Company of Philadelphia
  • Technical/Production
    Moderator: Megan Young, OPERA America
  • Trustees
  • General Directors (Annual Business Meeting)
  
  
• Roundtable II: Saturday, June 12 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
  • Artistic
  • Development
  • Education
    Moderator: Laura Karpman, Composer
  • Finance/Administration
    Moderator: Jody Horowitz, LA Opera
  • Marketing/PR
    Moderator: Doug Tuck, Vancouver Opera
  • Technical/Production
    Moderator: Marsha M. LeBoeuf, Washington National Opera
  • Trustees
  • Level 1 General Directors
  • Level 2 General Directors
  • Level 3 General Directors
  • Level 4 General Directors