Tapestry Announces Michael Mori as New Artistic Director

The Board of Directors of Tapestry has announced the appointment of Michael Mori to the position of Artistic Director. Michael joined Tapestry in 2011, bringing a broad background and network in opera, theatre, and new music to the company. He worked alongside Tapestry founder, Wayne Strongman for two years as Associate Artistic Director and for the past eight months as Artistic Director Designate, to deepen his understanding of opera creation and the challenges facing the company and the sector.

"It is very satisfying to hand over the artistic reigns of Tapestry to Michael Mori, who is a colleague of like aesthetic and human values. You can imagine the pride as I watch the achievements of Tapestry being celebrated and continued with fresh energy and insight." -Wayne Strongman, Founder and Former Artistic Director

During his time at Tapestry, Michael expanded the programs available for emerging artists through NewOpera 101 and other initiatives. In addition to helping produce the Tapestry season, he has also championed integrating Hip Hop into Tapestry's INside Opera program (sponsored by BMO), which introduced, to great success, music theatre creation to at-risk youth in St. James Town.

"To me, Tapestry is the most exciting and vital opera company in Canada," said Michael Mori. "Opera is experiencing a resurgence world-wide, driven by contemporary thinking companies such as Tapestry. Great, new content, interdisciplinary work and cutting edge methods of production and presentation are key to opera's rebirth. In Canada, Tapestry is in an ideal position to facilitate this renaissance with high quality creation and innovative production of vital music-theatre and opera. I look forward to surprising and impressing traditional and new audiences with Tapestry's upcoming shows and continuing to evolve from our significant past accomplishments."

Michael is an accomplished stage director and received rave reviews for his direction of last year's Tapestry Briefs. As an administrator, Michael was also recently chosen as one of two Canadians to be invited to Opera America's Leadership Intensive, and has been engaged by Opera America as a speaker on the topic of New Opera development.

"We are excited for the beginning of his leadership here, and the new energy and vision he is bringing to this company and the renaissance of opera in Canada," said Helen Findlay, Chair, Board of Directors, Tapestry.
"This is a truly new era for opera," added Mori.

For more information visit www.TapestryOpera.com.

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