Opera Colorado Appoints New General Director and CEO 

Barbara Lynne Jamison will assume the role as of August 1, 2025 

Barbara Lynne Jamison will succeed Greg Carpenter, who has led Opera Colorado as general and artistic director for nearly two decades. Carpenter will be stepping down at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Having served as CEO of Kentucky Opera for the past seven years, Jamison was selected following a national search conducted by Management Consultants for the Arts in partnership with Opera Colorado’s Board of Directors.

She will officially join Opera Colorado on August 1, 2025, but will begin working with the company during the leadership transition this spring and summer.

In previous roles, Jamison has served on the senior leadership teams at Seattle Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Guild. She is also an accomplished soprano, conductor, and educator.

Jamison is currently on the OPERA America Board of Directors, Trustee Council, Government Affairs working group, and Learning & Leadership Council, plus serves her local community as a Juneteenth Jubilee Commissioner and Chair of the Arts & Culture Alliance, among other initiatives.

“As I approach my 20th anniversary with Opera Colorado, I believe that the time is right for a change in leadership, enabling the Board of Directors to establish a new vision for Opera Colorado and hire a new General Director that will bring that vision to life during this new chapter,” Carpenter said.

“Jamison is known for her visionary leadership, commitment to civic engagement, and passion for connecting communities with opera in bold and meaningful ways,” Opera Colorado added. “The search committee was impressed by her track record of innovation, strategic leadership, and her ability to grow audiences while honoring the traditions of the art form.”

“I am honored to join Opera Colorado at this meaningful moment in its history," Jamison expressed. “The company’s long-standing commitment to artistic excellence and to serving its community has built a strong and respected foundation. I look forward to working in collaboration with the board, staff, and artists to continue that legacy and shape the company’s next chapter in partnership with the varied and diverse communities of Colorado.”