Arizona Opera Names New President and General Director

Arizona-based conductor, academic, and educator Brian DeMaris will step into the role

Arizona Opera has announced that the conductor, educator, and music executive Brian DeMaris will serve as its new President and General Director, effective immediately. DeMaris has worked with the company on several occasions, including on a recent production of The Secret Gardener.

DeMaris outlined four major goals for his tenure at the helm of the company, with the first being a focus on expanding the company's reach through creative programming, collaborations, and new commissions. He also aims to breathe fresh life into the company's BOLD, Spark, and NextGen initiatives, to similar ends.

Further goals around outreach include the maintenance and expansion of recital partnerships with local stakeholders such as Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and the Tucson Desert Song Festival. Finally, DeMaris emphasized the importance of "community embeddedness" and sustainability in the company's strategic plan.

A professor and the Artistic Director of Music Theatre and Opera at Arizona State University since 2015, Brian DeMaris has held roles with Anchorage Opera, Charlottesville Opera, Opera Columbus, El Paso Opera, Syracuse Opera, American Lyric Theatre, and American Opera Projects, among others.

As conductor, he has led the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, and Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, and has made appearances at venues such as Lincoln Center and the Aspen Music Festival.

"I look forward to expanding Arizona Opera’s role in both Phoenix and Tucson through collaborative partnerships and supporting our staff, chorus, orchestra and guest artists in engaging with the community," DeMaris said. "I also look forward to sharing my passion for teaching with our youth and adult education programs and further expanding the organization’s reach to new audiences."

"We are delighted to welcome Brian to the Arizona Opera family and continue our long-standing tradition of exceptional performances and significant community impact," said board chair David Heap. "We are confident he will provide inspiring leadership and continue our path to dynamic growth, while bringing a fresh energy to our programs and performances."