Music for the masses? New Opera director says it's about conversation
Jeffrey Lee Puckett
Kentucky Opera has a new General Director, and she can already pronounce "Louisville" flawlessly.
Barbara Lynne Jamison will take charge Aug. 15, coming to Louisville from Seattle where she is Director of Programs and Partnerships for the opera there and part of the senior management team.
Jamison said that her passion for connecting art and community aligned perfectly with Kentucky Opera's board of directors. She replaces Ian Derrer, who left after two years to become General Director of Dallas Opera.
"I love producing opera," Jamison said. "I think it's a really great mechanism for starting community conversations ... and what I loved about talking to people in Louisville, and to the board of directors, is that everyone seemed aligned with that.
"People in Louisville seem to love coming together as a community."
You may like:Kentucky nonprofits scramble to figure out state's new sales tax laws
Jamison is from Ohio and said that her family was always familiar with Louisville and often drove through it, which is why she's mastered the pronunciation.
She studied music at Florida International University, the Manhattan School of Music, and Boston University. She joined the Seattle Opera in 2011 and has specialized in community outreach, instituting programs that have reached 70,000 people annually.
Jamison said that she has been particularly happy with a chamber opera series that has utilized offbeat venues and youth programming. In a press release, Seattle Opera General Director Aidan Lang praised Jamison's ability to build "new, younger and more diverse audiences."
"Part of being a leader of a nonprofit is to create new audiences and then help foundations get behind the idea that the arts help build communities," Jamison said.
In a press release, Henry Kuehn, president of the Board of Directors, said, "Barbara Lynne Jamison’s appointment marks the successful conclusion of a thorough national search to identify the leader whose vision, creativity and experience will best guide and build the Kentucky Opera.
"Barbara brings with her expertise as a successful arts programmer and has a proven record of strategic leadership with a focus on increasing community impact. We are delighted to welcome her to Kentucky Opera.”
You may like:Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' tour in Louisville promises to be epic
Jamison said that she, her husband, daughter and two cats will arrive in Louisville in early August.
Season tickets are available for Kentucky Opera's 67th season. Single tickets go on sale on Aug. 1. Visit kyopera.org for more details.
Jeffrey Lee Puckett: 502-582-4160; jpuckett@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @JLeePuckett. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jeffreyl.
Kentucky Opera Brown-Forman 2018-19 season
► "The Magic Flute," Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Friday, Sept. 21, 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 23, 2 p.m. Sung in English and German.
► "Enemies, A Love Story," Ben Moore, libretto by Nahma Sandrow. Friday, Nov. 9, 8 p.m,. and Sunday, Nov. 11, 2 p.m. Sung in English.
► "Rigoletto," Giuseppe Verdi, Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 17, 2 p.m. Sung in Italian.
Season tickets are on sale now starting at $107. Single tickets will go on sale in August. New this year, the Opera is offering a $40 student subscription price. For more information, go to KyOpera.org or call 502-584-4500.