Pittsburgh Opera appoints Bill Powers as new director

The Pittsburgh Opera has a new director who is bringing with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles at the Juilliard School and the Metropolitan Opera. “I worked at the Juilliard School for a number of years, being the administrative director of the vocal arts program in the Juilliard Opera Center,” Bill Powers told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “My wife is a Juilliard graduate and a singer and opera singer, and she’s gone on to a wonderful career. I went right across the street shortly thereafter to the Metropolitan Opera.”Powers said popular opera productions like last year’s Madama Butterfly are important to attracting new fans and comforting longtime patrons. However, he also embraces focusing on the future of opera and new stories, such as the opera The Summer King, which tells the story of Pittsburgh Negro League baseball star Josh Gibson.Powers is not new to Pittsburgh. Previously, Powers worked at the Pittsburgh Opera for 14 years and led the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. “This building I was part of bringing the company into this building, part of the renovation and the architecture renderings and working with the board, to raise money,” Powers said. “It’s been an extraordinary asset for this organization in the big picture, both for its operations, but also how it engages the community.”Powers is aware of the challenges ahead. “Costs are rising in a lot of ways. Our earned income, our ticket sales continue to be something we have to work on — audiences, getting butts in the seats as they say. And of course, there’s a heavy reliance now on donors, on those people who want to see opera continue in this community,” Powers said. Current General Director Christopher Hahn advised Pittsburgh to cherish its cultural institutions. “What’s so great about Pittsburgh is that there are people who are so strongly dedicated to making sure that it continues,” Hahn said. “But the greater part needs to pay attention and be very, very, very glad we’ve got this and never let it go.”For more information on the Pittsburgh Opera, click here.

PITTSBURGH —

The Pittsburgh Opera has a new director who is bringing with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles at the Juilliard School and the Metropolitan Opera.

“I worked at the Juilliard School for a number of years, being the administrative director of the vocal arts program in the Juilliard Opera Center,” Bill Powers told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “My wife is a Juilliard graduate and a singer and opera singer, and she’s gone on to a wonderful career. I went right across the street shortly thereafter to the Metropolitan Opera.”

Powers said popular opera productions like last year’s Madama Butterfly are important to attracting new fans and comforting longtime patrons. However, he also embraces focusing on the future of opera and new stories, such as the opera The Summer King, which tells the story of Pittsburgh Negro League baseball star Josh Gibson.

Powers is not new to Pittsburgh. Previously, Powers worked at the Pittsburgh Opera for 14 years and led the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.

“This building I was part of bringing the company into this building, part of the renovation and the architecture renderings and working with the board, to raise money,” Powers said. “It’s been an extraordinary asset for this organization in the big picture, both for its operations, but also how it engages the community.”

Powers is aware of the challenges ahead.

“Costs are rising in a lot of ways. Our earned income, our ticket sales continue to be something we have to work on — audiences, getting butts in the seats as they say. And of course, there’s a heavy reliance now on donors, on those people who want to see opera continue in this community,” Powers said.

Current General Director Christopher Hahn advised Pittsburgh to cherish its cultural institutions.

“What’s so great about Pittsburgh is that there are people who are so strongly dedicated to making sure that it continues,” Hahn said. “But the greater part needs to pay attention and be very, very, very glad we’ve got this and never let it go.”

For more information on the Pittsburgh Opera, click here.