General Director
DESCRIPTION
About Opera Las Vegas
Opera Las Vegas (OLV) was formed in 1999 by tenor Mark Thomsen, educator Paul Kreider, and soprano Gloria Marinacci Allen, to further the love of opera in the local area. Early years were marked by concerts, sometimes performed by renowned soloists like Erie Mills. The company’s first full opera was 2004’s Carmen, followed by such classics as Cavalleria Rusticana and La bohème. In 2011, Puccini’s Tosca began a six-year relationship with conductor Gregory Buchalter, resulting in annual productions that included Don Giovanni and Rigoletto.
In 2014, Opera Las Vegas appeared for the first time in Myron’s, a cabaret space at The Smith Center. OLV was accepted as Nevada’s only professional company member in Opera America in 2015. A 2017 Partners in Excellence Grant from Nevada Arts Council facilitated a major re-branding, including establishment of the outreach umbrella programs Opera on Wheels and Opera with Class.
Joshua Horsch conducted Cinderella in 2018, a year also seeing establishment of the OLV Youth Chorus. Horsch became Music Director and Principal Conductor in 2020. After 2019’s well received West Coast premiere of Gordon and Vavrek’s 27, OLV established an ongoing Living Composers and Librettists Initiative, receiving four consecutive awards from the National Endowment for the Arts.
2021-2022 saw four such new works as well as the classic, Tosca, and OLV began a collaborative relationship with the Las Vegas Philharmonic. The 2022-2023 season culminated in two sold-out performances of Verdi’s La Traviata, a company first, that began a collaboration with the Las Vegas Masters Singers chorus. The subsequent Twenty-fifth Anniversary Season ended with an all-star La bohème and was notable for having begun an ongoing partnership with the award-winning group, Mariachi Plata at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN).
In its current season, OLV has programmed twenty performances of eleven events, ending with H.M.S. Pinafore, and has inaugurated the Christopher and Anita Murray Opera Las Vegas Studio at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
In addition to giving appropriate musical assignments to outstanding local talent, Opera Las Vegas casts its major productions with singers and creative artists of national acclaim, and exceptional rising stars. The performance season runs from September through June showcasing a spectacular array of professional talent in venues throughout the city, most especially the 500-seat Horn Theatre at CSN, and the Bayley Theatre at UNLV. Opera Las Vegas offers a first-rate artistic experience in a uniquely “Vegas” environment.
The Opportunity
In conjunction with the start of its Twenty-seventh Anniversary Season, Opera Las Vegas developed a strategic five year plan to bring operatic performances and services to considerably expanded audiences in venues throughout the city; provide educational opportunities to all through both traditional and imaginative approaches; and contribute substantially to the quality of life and well-being of the greater Las Vegas Valley area.
The General Director will have the opportunity to build from the framework of this plan within a unique city that has an active arts scene, admirable talent pool, world-famous entertainment industry, diverse and educated populace, and well-established social and cultural institutions. The next General Director will join a dedicated, determined, and resilient community that celebrates its wide-ranging opportunities for live performance experiences. The General Director will have a mandate from the Board to expand the reach of Opera Las Vegas throughout the community, to embrace underserved populations, to nurture young talent, and to realize the company's vision of presenting: Enthralling Stories. Exhilarating Music. Exquisite Singing.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal candidate will be a visionary, creative, and energetic leader with a proven collaborative approach to partnering and engaging with diverse groups, and lead through inspiration and motivation; will be knowledgeable and experienced about opera repertoire, artists, and production; and will have the strength of personality to unite both volunteer and professional members of the company behind a shared vision for Opera Las Vegas. While no single candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes.
PASSION FOR THE MISSION
- An understanding and belief in the importance of the performing arts to enhance communities, facilitate civic dialogue, and inspire joy (either personally or professionally).
- Create and steward artistic programming, husband available resources, and pursue vigorous fund- and friend-raising strategies rooted in the core values and mission of Opera Las Vegas.
VISIONARY AND STRATEGIC LEADER
- Provides the leadership that allows Opera Las Vegas to achieve its goals of artistic excellence, financial stability, effective fund-raising and expansive community engagement.
- Oversees the company’s operation, including: artistic administration, operations and production, budgeting and financial management, development, marketing and public relations, advocacy, education, and human resource management.
- Sets, promotes, and realizes an appealing artistic vision for the company, determining repertoire, assembling production teams, identifying performers, engaging artistic personnel, and coordinating logistical support.
- Fosters an environment that allows creative artists to do their best work; enables strong communication among company stakeholders; and nurtures a solid connection with supporters, donors, sponsors, and collaborators.
- Supports the Board of Directors in its governance duties and works closely with the Board President in recruiting talented volunteers to join an active, dedicated, and motivated Board.
EXTERNAL PRESENCE AND PARTNERSHIP CULTIVATION
- Serves as the visible representative of Opera Las Vegas throughout the community; actively pursues opportunities for collaborations and partnerships with arts, cultural, educational, social, and other organizations; functions as spokesperson for the company with print, broadcast and social media.
- Establishes and maintains meaningful and productive working relationships with the Nevada Arts Council, Nevada Humanities, Downtown Vegas Alliance, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Urban Chamber, Latin Chamber, the College of Southern Nevada, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, as well as other major government, corporate, foundation, and individual funders.
- Participates in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of donors, sponsors, and advertisers; provides guidance and reinforcement to the fundraising efforts of Board members and volunteers.
- Heightens awareness about Opera Las Vegas throughout the community, state and region, while raising national awareness that Opera Las Vegas is Nevada’s only professional company member in Opera America, the National Center.
IN ADDITION STRONG CANDIDATES WILL OFFER
- Critical thinking to lead the company strategically in devising short- and long-term operating plans to ensure that Opera Las Vegas meets its income and expense goals.
- Excellent budgeting and financial management skills.
- A creative entrepreneurial spirit.
- Mindfulness of compliance with all legal requirements.
- Demonstrated excellent communications skills and comfort working with a variety of internal and external constituents.
- Successful fundraiser experience possessed of an abiding respect for philanthropy and relationship building.
- Resourcefulness, flexibility, and resilience to confront challenges and discover innovative methods to attract audiences, and new sources of financial support.
- Skills in writing and speaking persuasively about the importance of opera in general and Opera Las Vegas in particular.
- Bachelor’s Degree at a minimum, Master’s Degree is preferred.
- Proven leadership of at least 5 years of senior management experience including relationship building/management or equivalent experience.
- Willingness to embrace the opportunity to make a home in Las Vegas, and to take an active and enthusiastic role in a diverse and dynamic community.
ABOUT LAS VEGAS
Widely referred to as simply “Vegas,” Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada, with a metropolitan population of nearly 2,230,000. It is easily accessed by highway, or via the conveniently located Harry Reid International airport The Las Vegas Valley as a whole serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center in Nevada. The city bills itself as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” and is famous for its luxurious large casino-hotels in a renowned resort city, widely known for its nightlife, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and gambling.
But Las Vegas is much more than the glittering Strip and historic Fremont Street, with locals enjoying a true melting pot culture, with a wide ranging gamut of music performance genres, diverse culinary arts, state of the art theatre technology, a burgeoning arts scene, world class venues, and a growing number of professional sports franchises, including the Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights. A great city deserves a great opera company, and Opera Las Vegas strives to fulfill that role.
Reports to: Opera Las Vegas Board
Desired Start Date: August 18, 2025
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $70,000 - $75,000 Annual
Includes health care benefits with 75% of the premium paid by the company, and 25% paid by the employee.HOW TO APPLY
Application Information
Opera Las Vegas is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all facets of the organization and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or national origin.
Please submit a cover letter that describes your specific interest in Opera Las Vegas and your qualifications for the position. Send with a resume and salary expectations. Applications will be accepted through 17 March 2025. Please also include the names of several references. All applications will be treated as confidential, and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s agreement. Electronic submissions are preferred.
Please email materials to Director@operalasvegas.com or mail to:
Opera Las Vegas – Jim Sohre
10620 Southern Highlands Parkway
Suite 110 – 405
Las Vegas, NV 89141
Application Deadline: March 17, 2025
Application Email/Link: Director@operalasvegas.com