Opera Unveils Major Leadership Shake-Up

Arizona Opera recently announced that Joseph Specter, its president and general director, will conclude his tenure at the end of the current fiscal year, with his contract set to expire on June 30, 2025. Specter has served with the organization for nearly nine years and is now poised to implement a newly adopted strategic plan as the company prepares for its upcoming 2024-25 season.

The new initiative, titled “Beyond Downtown,” is part of the McDougall RED Series, aimed at bringing opera beyond traditional venues and directly into Arizona’s communities. Fall will see the launch of this innovative programming, coinciding with the upcoming series of in-theater productions scheduled to begin in January 2025. Highlights of the season will include timeless classics such as “La Bohème” and “Aida,” along with the Arizona premiere of the adventurous opera “Zorro.” Additionally, the company’s annual Tucson recital program will expand into the Phoenix metro area, alongside the continuation of statewide educational initiatives.

To find Specter’s successor, the board of directors has enlisted the assistance of the national search firm Catherine French Group. For further details, visit www.azopera.org.