Frayda B. Lindemann Begins Term as Chairman of OPERA America's Board; 8 New Members Also Elected

OPERA America, the national nonprofit service organization for opera, has announced that Frayda B. Lindemann, Ph.D. became the first opera company trustee in the organization's entire 42-year history to be elected Chairman of its Board of Directors. Dr. Lindemann began her term at OPERA America's recent Annual Business Meeting – held during Opera Conference 2012 in Philadelphia – where eight new members were also elected to the Board.

The eight newly-elected Board members are: Daniel Biaggi (General Director, Palm Beach Opera), James Feldman (Board President, Washington National Opera), William Florescu (General Director, Florentine Opera Company), Christopher Hahn (General Director, Pittsburgh Opera), Barbara Leirvik (opera patron), Susan F. Morris (Board Chairman, The Santa Fe Opera), Esther Nelson (General and Artistic Director, Boston Lyric Opera) and Francesca Zambello (Artistic & General Director, The Glimmerglass Festival).

Dr. Lindemann, a trustee of the Metropolitan Opera, is the first non-general director to serve as Chairman of the OPERA America Board of Directors. She takes over the Chairmanship from Anthony Freud, General Director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, whose term was completed. Mr. Freud was warmly thanked for his service and valuable contributions to the organization and will continue to serve as a Board Member, as outlined in the by-laws.

"I am delighted to work with Frayda in her new role at this exciting moment in OPERA America's history, with the opening of the National Opera Center in September," stated President/CEO Marc A. Scorca. "As a Board Member, Frayda has brought a fresh perspective to the leadership of our organization. Her experience as an opera company trustee informs our broader service to the thousands of Board members who help sustain their companies across the country. I am also very pleased to welcome eight outstanding new members to our Board," continued Scorca. "Each of these individuals, representing the administrative, business, governance and artistic spheres of our industry, brings a different set of valuable skills to OPERA America."

In addition to the election of new Board Members, Gregory Swinehart (Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP) and Darren K. Woods (Fort Worth Opera) were both re-elected to a second three-year term. Mr. Woods was also re-elected as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Artistic Services Committee. Current Board Member David Bennett (Gotham Chamber Opera) was elected Chairman of the Governance Committee and in that capacity, a Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. The following officers of the Board were re-elected to their posts and committee chairmanships: Vice-Chairman and Opera Center Committee Chairman Stephen Trampe (Owen Development, St. Louis), Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairman Timothy O'Leary (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis) and Secretary and Membership Committee Chairman James W. Wright (Vancouver Opera).

As of the June meeting, four members of the Board of Directors completed their terms and were thanked for their years of dedicated service to the organization: Peter Gelb (The Metropolitan Opera), David Gockley (San Francisco Opera), Charles Mackay (The Santa Fe Opera) and Steven Sharpe (Opera Santa Barbara).

The OPERA America Board of Directors oversees the organization's portfolio of programs, including professional development activities, educational offerings and grant opportunities such as The Opera Fund. The Board of Directors meets three times per year and the next meeting will take place in November in Dallas, TX.

CURRENT LIST OF OPERA AMERICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

David Bennett (Vice-Chairman), Gotham Chamber Opera

Daniel Biaggi, Palm Beach Opera

J.A. (Gus) Blanchard, Minnesota Opera

Gregory Carpenter, Opera Colorado

Keith Cerny, The Dallas Opera

Rena M. De Sisto, Bank of America

David B. Devan, Opera Company of Philadelphia

James Feldman, Washington National Opera

William Florescu, Florentine Opera

Allen R. Freedman, opera patron

Anthony Freud, Lyric Opera of Chicago

Christopher Hahn, Pittsburgh Opera

Jake Heggie, composer

Carol F. Henry, Trustee, Los Angeles Opera

Barbara Leirvik, opera patron

Jay Lesenger, Chautauqua Opera

Frayda B. Lindemann, Ph.D. (Chairman), Trustee, Metropolitan Opera

W.R. (Bob) McPhee, Calgary Opera Association

Andreas Mitisek, Long Beach Opera & Chicago Opera Theater

Susan Morris, Trustee, The Santa Fe Opera

Esther Nelson, Boston Lyric Opera

Kevin Newbury, stage director

Timothy O'Leary (Treasurer), Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Kenneth Pigott, Trustee, Lyric Opera of Chicago

Norman Ryan, Schott Music Corporation & European American Music Distributors LLC

Marc A. Scorca (President/CEO), OPERA America

Gregory C. Swinehart, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP

Stephen Trampe (Vice-Chairman), Owen Development

Alec C. Treuhaft, IMG Artists

Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano

Darren K. Woods (Vice-Chairman), Fort Worth Opera

James W. Wright (Secretary), Vancouver Opera

Francesca Zambello, The Glimmerglass Festival

Ex-Officio:

Christina Loewen, Opera.ca

Nicholas Payne, Opera Europa

Frayda B. Lindemann is vice president of the Metropolitan Opera Association, member of the Executive Committee, and has been a managing director of the board since 1991. She is also a member of the board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In 2012 she was elected Chairman of the Board of OPERA America, the national organization that supports the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera, and provides artistic and educational services to opera companies and their communities.

For many years, Dr. Lindemann has given time and support to the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program of the Metropolitan Opera, which provides training for exceptionally gifted young singers; the program has introduced a new generation of artists who are currently performing at the Metropolitan Opera and other opera houses. For 35 years, she also supported young musical talent through her work with Young Concert Artists.

Dr. Lindemann received a Ph.D. in musicology from Columbia University in 1978. She was associate professor in the music department of Hunter College for 12 years and now serves as co-chair of the Music Advisory Board at Hunter.

OPERA America leads and serves the entire opera community, supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera. Artistic services help opera companies and creative and performing artists to improve the quality of productions and increase the creation and presentation of North American works.Information, technical, and administrative services to opera companies reflect the need for strengthened leadership among staff, trustees and volunteers.Education, audience development and community services are designed to enhance all forms of opera appreciation.

Founded in 1970, OPERA America's worldwide membership network includes nearly 200 Professional Company Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and more than 16,000 subscribers to the association's electronic news service. In 2005, OPERA America relocated from Washington, D.C. to New York as the first step in creating the first-ever National Opera Center. With a wide range of artistic and administrative services in a purpose-built facility, the Opera Center is dedicated to increasing the level of excellence, creativity and effectiveness across the field.

OPERA America's long tradition of supporting and nurturing the creation and development of new works led to the formation of The Opera Fund, a growing endowment which allows OPERA America to make a direct impact on the ongoing creation and presentation of new opera and music-theater works. Since its inception, OPERA America has made grants of nearly $11 million to assist companies with the expenses associated with the creation and development of new works.