About Madison Opera
Madison Opera is a non-profit, professional opera company based in Madison, Wisconsin. A resident organization of the Overture Center for the Arts, Madison Opera produces three operas annually in addition to Opera in the Park and a variety of educational programming.
With the 2021/22 season, Madison Opera will celebrate our 61st year of being one of only two opera companies in Wisconsin that provide the experience of fully-staged grand opera. Our mission is to produce opera of the highest artistic standards, and our three mainstage productions draw over 10,000 audience members each year to the Overture Center to enjoy both classic operas such as Carmen and modern masterpieces such as Fellow Travelers. Our gift to the community, Opera in the Park, attracts over 15,000 people to Madison from across Wisconsin for a free concert on a beautiful July evening.
Staff
GENERAL DIRECTOR – Kathryn Smith – Bio
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – John DeMain – Bio
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE – Jennifer Fenster
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT – Beth Tolles
PATRON SERVICES MANAGER – Chloe Agostino
COMPANY MANAGER – Samantha Garcia
MARKETING & DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER – Andrew Rogers
PRODUCTION MANAGER – Kenneth Ferencek
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / WAREHOUSE MANAGER – Billy Larimore
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER – Jill Krynicki
MUSIC ASSISTANT – Aubrie Jacobson
Board of Trustees
Officers
PRESIDENT – John Lemke*
CHAIRMAN – Thomas Terry*
VICE PRESIDENT – Peyton Engel*
VICE PRESIDENT – Susan Zaeske*
TREASURER – Connie Kinsella*
SECRETARY – Viki Brigham*
Trustees
Carla J. Alvarado
Gary Bennett
John Buscemi
Martha Casey
Leanne Cordisco
David Flanders
Brian Haltinner
Brandon Hayes
Joyce Hirsch
Stephen Hurley*
R. Roth Judd
Fran Klos*
Franzo Law II
Susan Lipp
Patti Lucas
Pete Lundberg*
Connie Maxwell
Michael McArdle
Sally Miley*
J. Marshall Osborn*
Deepika Rajesh
Charles Snowdon*
J. Ashley Taylor
Toby Wallach
*Executive Committee
Life Trustee
Aileen Jensen
Advisors
Bert Adams
Marian Bolz
Kennedy Gilchrist
Fern Lawrence
Elaine Staley
Sharyn Stumpf*
Karen Walsh
Helen Wineke
Madison Opera Foundation
Established in 2001, the Madison Opera Foundation is an important part of Madison Opera’s financial structure. Managed by a board of directors, it oversees several funds, including the Madison Opera Endowment (for gifts given in perpetuity), the Madison Opera Reserve, and several donor-designated funds.
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT – Martin Barrett
Marian Bolz
Terry Haller
Joyce Hirsch
Connie Kinsella
John Lemke
Connie Maxwell
Sally Miley
J. Marshall Osborn
Thomas Terry
The Margaret C. Winston
Madison Opera Center
Located at 335 W. Mifflin Street, just one block from Overture Center’s stage door, the Margaret C. Winston Madison Opera Center is both our artistic home and our administrative home, with our offices, rehearsal hall, costume shop and more. Over the course of a season, the Opera Center is home to auditions, rehearsals, meetings, previews, donor events, and so much more.
The Opera Center may be rented for rehearsals and events; the parking ramp associated is available for public parking.
The Studio Artist Program
Established in 2012, the Madison Opera Studio Artist Program is an important part of the company’s artistic and educational mission. The Studio Artists are three or four singers in the transitional period between university and their professional careers. Over the course of a season, Studio Artists perform small roles and understudy major roles in Madison Opera’s productions, as well as serving as the company’s musical ambassadors across our region.
Tyrese Byrd
tenor
MM – Univ. of Michigan
BM – Furman University
Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor
Ensemble in She Loves Me
Mercury in Orpheus in the Underworld
Quinn Middleman
mezzo-soprano
MM – Northwestern Univ.
BM – Univ. of Southern California
Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor
Ensemble in She Loves Me
Anja Pustaver
soprano
MM – UW-Madison
BM – UW-Stevens Point
Ensemble in She Loves Me
Minerva in Orpheus in the Underworld
Jake Surzyn
baritone
MM – Univ. of Michigan
BM – Oakland Univ.
Mars in Orpheus in the Underworld
Soprano
Emily Secor
Mezzo
Kirsten Larson
Tenor
Benjamin Hopkins
Baritone
Stephen Hobe
Soprano
Emily Secor
Mezzo
Kirsten Larson
Tenor
Benjamin Liupaogo
Baritone
Stephen Hobe
Soprano
Anna Polum
Mezzo
Megan Ott Romero
Tenor
Benjamin Liupaogo
Soprano
Anna Polum
Mezzo
Anna Parks
Baritone
James Held
Soprano
Marie McManama
Mezzo
Kelsey Park
Tenor
William Ottow
Baritone
Nathaniel Hill
Soprano
Chelsea Morris
Mezzo
Anna Laurenzo
Tenor
Thomas Leighton
Soprano
Gillian Hollis
Soprano
Jessie Lyons
Tenor
Scott Brunscheen
Soprano
Jeni Houser
Mezzo
Jessica Timman
Tenor
Adam Shelton
Baritone
John Arnold
Auditions
PRINCIPAL AUDITIONS
Principal artist auditions are generally held every December in Madison. Please check back in fall 2022 for information on the next set of auditions.
MADISON OPERA CHORUS AUDITIONS
The next round of Madison Opera Chorus auditions will be held in summer 2023. Please check in May 2023 for an audition announcement.
STUDIO ARTIST AUDITIONS
Madison Opera is holding auditions for Wisconsin and Upper-Midwest based young artists for its Studio Artists Program in the 2022/23 season on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Responsibilities will include covering mainstage roles, singing small roles or chorus as appropriate, and performing previews and other outreach activities as scheduled by mutual agreement between September 2022 and May 2023.
Please note: This is not a full-time program. Compensation will be based on specific assignments, and outreach activities will be scheduled by mutual agreement. While there is no specific age range, artists should have completed their undergraduate degree and be in the
early stages of a professional opera career.
Deadline: received by May 12, 2022
To be considered for an audition, please e-mail your resume and headshot to auditions@madisonopera.org. You will be contacted to schedule an audition time, if appropriate.
If granted an audition, singers should prepare four to five arias of varying styles and languages. A pianist will be provided free of charge.
Health and safety: All company members in Madison Opera’s season must be fully-vaccinated against COVID-19. Singers will be asked to provide proof of vaccination prior to their audition.
Note: These auditions are for Studio Artists only; principal and chorus auditions will be held on future dates.
If you have questions about any of these auditions, please contact auditions@madisonopera.org.
Production Assistant Program
The Production Assistant position offers a hands-on experience in a professional opera environment. This volunteer position is ideal for college and high school students, giving them the chance to work backstage as part of the production team and learn stage management skills. Exact tasks are assigned based on interest and aptitude.
The History of Madison Opera
Since 1961, Madison Opera has presented over 70 different operas, composed from the 18th to the 21st century, performed in seven different languages. We have shared the magic of opera with generations of our community, as both opera and our city have evolved. Learn more about our history and details on past productions.
Job Openings
At this time there are no open positions at Madison Opera.