Toronto, ON – February 22, 2023 – At its Annual Meeting of Members on Wednesday, February 15, members of Association for Opera in Canada elected its board of directors, welcoming new board member, Robin Whiffen, General Director, Against the Grain Theatre.
Ms Whiffen is an alumna of the OPERA America Leadership Intensive, participated in the Business/Arts Executive Leadership Program, has been a mentor in the AOC RBC Future Launch Fellowship Program and serves as Co-Chair of the OPERA America Women’s Opera Network Steering Committee, and the College of Electors for the University of Toronto. She is a Master of Business Administration candidate at Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from The University of Toronto.
Board members rotating off the board at this AGM included Heather Kitchen, General Director, Calgary Opera, Alexandra Skoczylas, member-at-large, and mezzo-soprano Marion Newman.
Members confirmed the executive of the board Chair Michael Mori, Vice-Chair Ian Rye, and Secretary-Treasurer, Bruce Munro Wright.
Board members elected to a one-year term for 2023/24 are:
- Michael Mori, General Director, Tapestry Opera
- Ian Rye, CEO, Pacific Opera Victoria
- Dean Burry, Assistant Professor and composer, Queens University
- Patrick Hansen, Associate Prof, Director of Opera Studies, McGill University
- Chantal Lambert, Directrice de l’ Atelier lyrique de L’Opera de Montréal
- Amy Mushinski, Associate Director, Public Affairs, The Canadian Opera Company
- Bruce Munro Wright, Member-at-Large, Vancouver, BC
- Jennifer Szeto, Co-founder, Musique 3 Femmes
- Aria Umezawa, Amplified Opera
For the year ending June 30, 2022, Association for Opera in Canada announced a small operating surplus of $3,930. Taking into account the change in market value of the association’s investment portfolio, the association posted an overall deficit of -$40,633.
The Association for Opera in Canada is a membership-based association for opera companies, opera artists, businesses, teaching institutions, and individuals. Our mandate is to create and sustain an environment that makes opera central to Canadian life. We work with members across the sector to mitigate challenges, celebrate successes, and help opera thrive in a changing environment. We are a communications hub, a connector and convenor, a champion and catalyst for change, and a relentless advocate.
For more information, contact: Christina Loewen, [email protected]
