Executive Producer Brian Gill founded Queens Opera Theatre in 2016 with the goal of bringing world class opera performances to the Borough of Queens. He has managed the Carnegie Hall guided historical tour program, performances of Handel’s Messiah for Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, and served as House Manager for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Concerts and Lectures Series, managing the performances of Marvin Hamlisch, Tony Bennett, and Joanne Woodward. Currently, Brian serves as Guest Experience Representative for Madison Square Garden, elevating client satisfaction and ensuring every encounter with the arts is exceptional and inclusive. Brian holds degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Michigan School of Music, Ann Arbor. Early in his career, he toured as a professional musician in the U.S., Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Caribbean. Although opera is his love, the performing arts have also offered Brian the chance to establish relationships with pivotal community officials, corporate sponsors, and cross-functional teams. It is with great pride that all these experiences have led to his development and creation of Queens Opera Theatre.
NB: What do/did you love most about living in Queens (or Queens in general)?
BG: Queens is truly The World’s Most Diverse Borough.
NB: How important is personal connection and communication (networking) in your industry?
BG: Networking is essential to cultivating success, most especially an entrepreneurial company with the goal of bridging the gap between Opera as an alternative and loyal patrons.
NB: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? What is something you wish you knew a decade or two or three ago?
BG: Every day remind yourself of your own ability, of your good mind, and affirm that you can make something really good out of your life.
NB: What are your favorite restaurants, cafes, theaters, bookstores, exhibits, museums, communities, and venues in Queens? Favorite places to play your music, with Queens Opera Theatre and solo?
BG: Venues: CultureLab LIC, Flushing Town Hall, Museum of the Moving Image; Restaurants: Dirty Pierres, Rove, London Lennies, Cabana, Il Poeta, Barosa.
NB: Do you have any events or projects coming up that you’d like to promote?
BG: Thursday, April 9, 7:30 pm. Vino e Voce – CultureLab, Long Island City
Thursday, September 17, 7;30 pm. Vino e Voce – CultureLab, Long Island City
For more information, visit culturelablic.org and queensoperatheatre.org.
NB: If you could choose only one song or instrument to represent Queens, what would it be?
BG: What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong.
NB: What’s a wild story (PG-13) you have about NYC before the times of cell phones or social media? If you weren’t in NYC then, what’s a story you have of NYC past (or the past)?
BG: In 2000, as a Carnegie Hall employee, I escorted pianist/comedian Victor Borge to his dressing room.
NB: Can you tell us more about how you “founded Queens Opera Theatre in 2016 with the goal of bringing world class opera performances to the Borough of Queens”? How has Queens Opera Theatre grown over the years?
BG: Queens Opera Theatre stands at a pivotal moment. With a powerful mission to make opera accessible and affordable, we have carved out a unique position in the New York City cultural landscape. At present, there is a significant opportunity gap between programming activity and the vibrant, underserved Queens market of 2.4 million residents. Queens remains one of the most culturally diverse and underserved performing arts markets in the metropolitan area.
Since our 2017 Season Preview at Flushing Town Hall, Queens Opera Theatre has delivered community performances at Forest Hills Women’s Club, the Compost Collective, and CultureLab LIC. We are developing an educational initiative to curate programming in partnership with the Queens Library and Queens Public Schools.
—Nicollette Barsamian
The Local-Express interview series was originated on July 3, 2013 by Nicollette Barsamian.