New York City | January 10–11, 2024

Thank you for joining us for the 2024 New Works Forum. 

The New Works Forum features:

• Panels and Pitch Sessions
• Networking Opportunities
• Performances

Explore the full schedule below. 

For questions or assistance, please contact Noelle Deutsch, director of artistic operations, at NDeutsch@operaamerica.org or 212.796.8629.

The 2024 New Works Forum is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trusts, The Theodore H. Barth Foundation, Joy Chambers, Charlotte L. Isaacs, and Raulee Marcus.

Programming at the National Opera Center is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Schedule  

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9

Creators in Concert: Canadian New Works

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
OPERA America’s National Opera Center, Marc A. Scorca Hall

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10

Opening Session: Collaborative Creation

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center, Marc A. Scorca Hall

This session explored the rise of collaborative creation as a new approach to developing new works. From the inception of ideas to the execution of productions, how does this creative strategy build on the foundation of collaboration that is already a defining characteristic of the art form? How does work that is created collaboratively preserve its integrity in subsequent production? Experienced practitioners shared their insights and recommendations.

Listening Session

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center

Attendees had a chance to contribute their ideas to the evolution of OPERA America’s commitment to supporting the creation and production of new opera and to the further development of the New Works Forum.

Pitch Sessions

2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center

Artists and companies had the opportunity to pitch new works projects. Attendees had the unique opportunity to hear about new works in development and upcoming projects, which provided opportunities for co-production and collaboration.

Pitch Sessions — Debrief and Feedback

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center

This brief session allowed attendees to ask questions and discuss what was pitched in the preceding pitch sessions.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11

Listening Session — Wednesday Debrief

10:00 p.m. – 10:30 a.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center

Participants shared reflections and questions generated by Wednesday’s sessions.

Morning Session: Site-Specific Opera 

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center 

Attendees explored the challenges and benefits associated with producing opera in specific locations. Speakers examined how site-specific opera can foster stronger relationships with local cultural organizations and community members while increasing the public value of the company and the art form. They also identified the logistical hurdles associated with performing in found locations and offered advice for success.

Afternoon Breakout Session: Devised Work Workshop

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center 

This session explored the process of devised work from the individual perspective of each collaborator and examined whether these creative strategies are applicable to opera. Participants had the opportunity to join small groups led by artists from various disciplines who will provide lessons from their unique experiences and guide participants through the process of creating devised work.

Closing Session

3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | OPERA America’s National Opera Center 

This session invited participants to provide feedback, observations, and insights gained from the forum as well as suggestions for Opera Conference 2024 in June in Los Angeles.

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Additional Information

For questions or assistance, please contact Noelle Deutsch, director of artistic operations, at NDeutsch@operaamerica.org or 212.796.8629.

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New Works Forum Attendees

• Rob Ainsley, Artistic & General Director, The Glimmerglass Festival
• Athena Azevedo, Executive Director, International Brazilian Opera Company 
• Emily Barber, Director of Production, On Site Opera 
• Marie-Annick Beliveau, Artistic Director, Chants Libres
• Susan Bienkowski, Trustee, Long Beach Opera 
• Cheryl Blalock, Executive Director, Lamplighters Music Theatre
• Elizabeth Blaufox, Director of Promotion, Boosey & Hawkes
• Kitty Brazelton, Composer
• Deborah Brevoort, Librettist/Campbell Opera Librettist Prize Winner
• Fredrika Brillembourg, Producer, Freelance 
• Edwin Cahill, Co-Founder & Director, Hogfish 
• Matt Cahill, Co-Founder & Director, Hogfish
• Audrey Chait, Artistic Coordinator, Cincinnati Opera 
• Alan Chan, Composer, Immortal Labia
• Kelvin Chan, General Director, Vital Opera 
• Justine Chen, Opera Composer
• Lawrence Cherney, Artistic Director, Soundstreams 
• Cara Consilvio, New Works Producer, Freelance Producer
• Paul Cremo, Dramaturg/Director of Opera Commissioning Program, The Metropolitan Opera 
• Mathilde Côté
• Julia Dawson, Performer/Producer
• Ana De Archuleta, Managing Director, National Sawdust 
• Christian De Gré Cárdenas, Executive Director, Heartbeat Opera 
• Lisa DeSpain, Composer, Song of the Nightingale/That Hellbound Train 
• David Devan, General Director and President, Opera Philadelphia
• David Dorsen, Librettist, For Whom the Bell Tolls
• Stacie Dunlop, Performer/Producer
• Randall Eng, Composer, New York University
• Christine Evans
• Stephanie Fleischmann, Librettist
• Kathryn Frady, General Director & CEO, Opera Louisiane & Marble City Opera
• Nicole Freber, Managing Director, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
• Susan Galbraith, Artistic Director, Alliance for New Music-Theatre
• Alexander Gedeon, Deviser and Director of New Opera, Synchromy
• Duane Gelderloos, Executive Director, Alliance for New Music-Theatre
• Anita Gonzalez, Librettist, AOP Composers and Voice Fellow
• Annie Gosfield, Composer, Discovery Grant recipient 
• Julian Grant, Composer
• Jane Gross, Trustee, On Site Opera 
• Velina Hasu Houston, Dr.
• Cary Hoffman, Composer
• Jane Hulburt, Director of Artistic Operations, Cincinnati Opera 
• Charlotte Isaacs
• Lauren Ishida, Director/Promotion, Schott | EAM
• Cerise Jacobs, Opera Maker/Founding Artistic Director, White Snake Projects
• Zoé Jean-Deslauriers, Assistant Production Manager, Mathilde Côté
• Shawn Jeffery, Vice President/Classical & Creatives, UIA Talent Agency 
• Jing Jing Luo, Composer, Splitting Sand
• Jennifer Jolley, Composer, Spacewalk  
• Dana Kaufman, Discovery Grantee/Assistant Professor in Music Composition, University of California, Riverside (Dr.)
• Joel Klein, General Manager, Association for Opera in Canada
• George Koop, Librettist
• Rachel Krehm, General Director, Opera 5
• Samuel Krum, Senior Artist Manager, Robert Gilder & Company 
• Ben Krywosz, Artistic Director, Nautilus Music-Theater 
• Sam Linden, Executive Director, Beth Morrison Projects
• Carla Lucero, Composer/Librettist
• Jaime Martino, Executive Director, Tapestry Opera 
• Sarah Meyers, Artistic Director, On Site Opera 
• Susan Miller, General Director, Intermountain Opera Bozeman
• Evans Mirageas, Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, Cincinnati Opera 
• Peggy Monastra
• Tammy Moore, Strategic Projects Coordinator, G. Schirmer
• Michael Mori, General Director, Tapestry Opera 
• Marianna Mott Newirth, Librettist
• Victoria Moy, Librettist/IDEA Grants Recipient 2023
• Tamar Muskal
• Ben Newman, Executive Producer, Kam Studio
• Heather O'Donovan, Artist/Librettist/Arts Journalist/Writer
• Bonita Oliver, Composer/Librettist, IDEA Opera Grantee 
• Margaret Ozaki Graves, Director of Education & Community Engagement, Central City Opera House Association
• Nicole Paiement, General & Artistic Director, Opera Parallèle
• Alexis Peart, Executive Director, Boston Opera Collaborative 
• Rachel Peters, Composer/Librettist
• Kendall Pinkney, IDEA Grantee Winner 2023
• Josh Quinn, Head of Music, Opera Omaha
• Cecelia Raker, Librettist/Dramaturg
• Alexander Sanger
• Aaron Sanko, CEO, UIA Talent Agency 
• Barbara Scales, President, Latitude 45 Arts Promotion, Inc
• Hayet Sellami, Librettist
• Maria Sensei Sellner, Artistic & General Director/Conductor, Resonance Works 
• Aaron Siegel, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Experiments in Opera 
• Bernadette Speach, Composer
• Andrew Sprague, Operations Manager, Young Concerts Artists 
• Brian Staugenbiel, Creative Director, Opera Parallèle
• Isabel Tague, Vocal Studies and Curtis Opera Theatre Associate, Curtis Institute of Music 
• Victoria Voketaitis, Director of Touring, Beth Morrison Projects
• Scott Wheeler, Composer
• Brian Wilbur Grundstrom, BrainWilbur Music 
• Jennifer Williams, Director, Discovery Grant Winner 2023
• Michelle Winters, Director of Communications, Atlanta Opera 
• Debi Wong, Founding Artistic Director, re: Naissance Opera 
• Danielle Wright, Executive Director/Founder, Opera MODO
• William Zeffiro, Composer

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