The Lyric Opera of Kansas City Board President Richard P. Bruening announced the appointment of Deborah Sandler as the Company’s new General Director, effective July 1. Sandler signed a five-year contract with the Lyric Opera. Sandler will assume the role of General Director as Evan Luskin, who served the Company for 26 years – 14 of them as General Director – retires on June 30.
“Deborah joins the Lyric Opera at an important time in our Company’s evolution,” notes Bruening. “She will build upon the successes we have enjoyed during the first season performing in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, will expand our robust educational offerings to reach more Kansas Citians, and will continue the Company’s tradition of responsible fiscal leadership as we complete the capital campaign for our Opera Center complex.”
“Deborah was the standout choice,” notes Joyce G. Holland, chair of the search committee. “She has a deep understanding of how opera companies operate, and immediately will be able to guide the Company forward as it continues to produce work of the highest artistic caliber. Her strengths in strategic planning, organizational alignment, and fundraising made her the unanimous choice of the committee.”
“Lyric Opera of Kansas City is a remarkable company,” said Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America, the national service organization for opera. “Performing in the magnificent new Kauffman Center and preparing to move into a new Opera Center, the company is poised to advance its role as an important local cultural resource and enhance its national stature. The appointment of Deborah Sandler as the next General Director is very exciting. She has a bold vision for opera and tremendous experience that will leverage these opportunities for real and lasting growth.”
“The Lyric Opera is an artistically strong, fiscally stable company,” Sandler says. “I am thrilled to join the Company at this important time in the Company’s history, and look forward to deepening the Company’s commitment to producing contemporary opera.”
As General Director, Sandler will be responsible for directing all aspects of the Company’s administration, fundraising, marketing, artistic production, and education programs. In collaboration with Artistic Director Ward Holmquist, she also will plan the Company’s artistic offerings.
“I believe the Board has made an excellent choice in selecting Deborah as the new General Director,” Holmquist says. “I have had the great pleasure of working for her at two of her prior opera companies, and I highly respect her knowledge, insight and passion for the art form. It will be an exciting collaboration.”
“In Deborah Sandler, the Board has found a leader with the vision and the energy to accomplish that vision,” notes Evan Luskin. “I am happy to turn the reins of the Company over to her, after working 26 years to advance the accomplishments of the Company.”
Sandler currently is Director of Development and External Affairs at the Kentucky School of Art at Spalding University in Louisville. She previously was General Director of Kentucky Opera, where she increased the audience more than 43 percent and individual contributions 136 percent over seven years. Ms. Sandler also was the General Director of the Opera Festival of New Jersey in Princeton. Over her 10 years with that company, she grew the budget from $500,000 to $1.6 million and successfully led the company into a new performance venue, nearly doubling the audience. She developed extensive touring and residency educational programs for both opera companies.
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