In 2015, OPERA America conducted a preliminary research survey about women in leadership roles in opera from 1990 to 2015.

New research extends those trends to 2020, tracking the percentage of OPERA America companies in each budget group helmed by women general directors.

Budget 4/5 companies continue to lead with the largest percentage of female leaders. Meanwhile, Budget 1 companies have remained steady at just under 10 percent (only one company).

Nevertheless, the percentage of women in leadership roles at Budget 2 and 3 companies has increased notably in the past five years. Budget 3 companies have reached the near-50-percent mark held by Budget 4/5 companies.

This change suggests an upward trickle, as skilled women at smaller companies are hired into progressively larger organizations.