Long Beach Opera Announces New President of the Board

Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek announced Dr. Robert Braun has been selected president of the Long Beach Opera (LBO) Board of Directors, succeeding Sue Bienkowski, long-time board president. He has been on the board for five years, previously serving on both the development committee (chair) and executive committee.

LBO Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek said, "Robert Braun has been a passionate supporter of music, especially opera, and of the arts in Long Beach through his leadership on the board of MOLAA. Robert combines an artist's soul with a sound business focus and we are fortunate to have his leadership for LBO."

"I am honored that my colleagues have selected me to serve as president," said Dr. Braun. "I may be taking over the presidency, but I can never fill Sue Bienkowski's shoes. Without her dedicated leadership and passionate support, LBO would not have reached this success. I look forward to working with my fellow directors and all of you who love LBO to help grow our organization's scope and resources in support of this incredible and 'unexpected' company and the clear and powerful vision of Mitisek and his fellow artists."

Mitisek commented, "LBO has been so lucky to have had the leadership of Sue Bienkowski as we have grown both in size and in recognition for our unexpected work. She is the rare person who combines passion for music with sound business acumen and a fantastic commitment to providing opportunity for great art. After twelve years as president, we are fortunate Sue will remain on the board as treasurer."

"It has been a great pleasure to work with Andreas and my fellow board members to help LBO grow into the internationally-known organization it is today," said Bienkowski. "LBO is a treasure for the opera world and for our region and I'm very glad to continue to be part of the board as we journey to the next level of growth."

Robert N. Braun, M.D., has been on the LBO Board of Directors for five years. During that time, he has served as chair of the development committee and on the executive committee. Dr. Braun is also co-chair of the board of directors at MOLAA and president of S.M. Morgan, Inc., a real estate management company. He received his BA from USC in 1970, his MD from UAG (Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Mexico in 1975, and his specialty in psychiatry from LAC-USC Medical Center in 1979. Dr. Braun worked as the medical director of Los Angeles PSRO from 1981 to 1983 and as medical director for US Administrators from 1983 to 1985. In 1985, he became the president of S.M. Morgan, Inc.. Dr. Braun is a member of the Heifitz International Music Institute at Mary Baldwin College. In addition, he serves on the advisory council of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University and is also a member of the board of directors of Diamond Bank and Bainum Bancorp in Arkansas. He has served as a board member and treasurer of the Los Angeles Committee for Philanthropic Arts, the Los Angeles Opera League, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Business and Professional Committee. Robert Braun resides in Los Angeles and is married to Joan Friedman, Ph.D. He and Joan Friedman are Founders of the Los Angeles Music Center and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Board of Overseers. Together they have five children; Matthew, Sarah, Amy, David, and Jonny.

Sue was honored in 2015 by Opera America, the national service organization for opera, as a recipient of its National Opera Trustee Recognition Award. She is an enthusiastic philanthropist and board member of several regional and national arts organizations. During her 12 years as president of the Long Beach Opera Board of Directors, she and Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek solidified the company's trajectory from a small, local organization to a robust, nationally and internationally recognized company. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Bienkowski cultivated important relationships in order to transform LBO's board into one that is able to fundraise, promote the company, and establish connections to ensure success. As a result, the company has grown from two to four productions, quadrupled its subscriber base, and increased its budget from $750,000 to nearly two million dollars. Bienkowski's passion and generosity as one of the company's top contributors, her adventurous spirit, and her steadfast commitment to trailblazing, innovative programming have been crucial to the company's continuing success.

LONG BEACH OPERA 2017 SEASON

Henry Purcell's The Fairy Queen with the iconic Culture Clash comedy troupe and the Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra.

Philip Glass' The Perfect American, fictional story about Walt Disney's final days in its US premiere.

Laura Kaminski's As One, a powerful work celebrating diversity, acceptance, and compassion.

Robert Xavier Rodriguez' Frida, opera based on Mexican painter Frida Kahlo performed outdoors.

Subscriptions to Long Beach Opera's 2017 season range from $98 to $600 and can be purchased by calling 562.432.5934 or online at www.longbeachopera.org. Individual tickets will go on sale in late September.

About Long Beach Opera: Long Beach Opera (LBO) is internationally known for its cutting-edge interpretations of unconventional repertoire. LBO creates immediate, inventive, and often boldly avant- garde productions for an adventurous audience and stands apart from most opera companies in the number of world, American and West Coast premieres the company has staged. Founded in 1979, it is the oldest professional opera company in the Los Angeles/Orange County region with a performance history of more than 110 operas, ranging from the earliest works of the 17th century to operas of the 21st. LBO's ever?growing repertoire has provided stimulus for the subsequent founding of other local opera companies, catapulting Southern California into the spotlight as a major opera epicenter. LBO is a recognized and respected member of the U. S. cultural community, receiving funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, the County of Los Angeles, and the City of Long Beach, along with generous individual donors, local businesses, public corporations, and private foundations.

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!