The San Diego State University School of Music and Dance and the
San Diego Opera have announced a new position, shared between the two organizations.
Director of opera is a full-time, faculty position that will direct SDSU Opera’s fall production, teach acting and stage movement for singers, and act as assistant director on San Diego Opera’s mainstage productions in the spring.
Creating a full-time position shared between these two organizations will attract high-level talent and enhance the quality of opera instruction in the region, noted the organizations’ leaders.
This partnership further develops San Diego Opera’s relationship with SDSU, as a number of students in the school’s opera program are members of the company’s Opera Exposed program, an intensive training program for outstanding college and young professional singers that stage performances throughout the San Diego community.
“Our research indicates that this is the first time in the California State University system that an academic institution has partnered with a professional arts organization to serve the public good by providing a direct channel ensuring the longevity of the art form of opera,” said
Joyce Gattas, dean of SDSU's College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.
“I'm thrilled about the new director of opera position, which brings together the strengths of San Diego Opera and San Diego State University,” said
David Bennett, San Diego Opera general director. “The successful candidate will bring their considerable artistic skills to both institutions, and foster a collaborative relationship that I know will strengthen and grow in the future.”
SDSU and San Diego Opera currently are conducting a search to fill this position, which will begin in summer 2018. For more information about the new position and SDSU’s opera programs, visit the
SDSU School of Music and Dance website.