Press Releases David B. Devan Appointed Executive Director of Opera Company of Philadelphia 03-31-2009 For Immediate Release: March 31, 2009 Contact: Tracy C. Galligher215-893-3600, ext. 204galligher@operaphila.org David B. Devan Appointed Executive Director of Opera Company of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA: Opera Company of Philadelphia Board Chairman Stephen A. Madva is pleased to announce that the Opera Company Board of Directors has appointed David B. Devan, who has served as Managing Director since his arrival in January 2006, to the post of Executive Director. Under this new leadership structure, General and Artistic Director Robert B. Driver will return to his post as Artistic Director, which he held from 2001-2004. “The fact that the Opera Company of Philadelphia is facing these challenging times with a solid strategic plan and a cohesive board and administration is largely due to David’s hard work and hands-on management,” said Board Chairman Madva. “His accomplishments, in tandem with a strong and productive partnership with Robert Driver, Music Director Corrado Rovaris and the Board, merit this new degree of leadership.” Artistic Director Robert Driver shares, “From the earliest moments in our search for the new position of managing director, our plan was to find a candidate who could naturally move into the position of executive director, allowing me to focus more on the artistic product in collaboration with Corrado. David’s extensive background in the business of opera management has made him an invaluable asset. We are steering through difficult financial waters while continuing to produce opera at a very high quality, and I look forward to our team continuing to do so together.” Devan arrived at the Opera Company of Philadelphia in January 2006 following an extensive North American search, spearheaded by Driver and funded by the William Penn Foundation, to identify a managing director to oversee all income-generating departments as well as board development and community programs. Since his arrival, he has worked closely with board and administration on strategic planning initiatives and building partnerships within the community. Key achievements born out of these initiatives have included the first cycle of the education department’s Hip H’Opera collaboration with Arts Sanctuary’s after-school program; the successful partnership between the Opera Company, Curtis Institute of Music and Kimmel Center Presents to produce a fully-staged opera each season at the Perelman Theater with joint marketing strength; OCP’s selection for a Wallace Foundation Excellence Award to support marketing programs; and a $5 million fundraising campaign supporting the company’s artistic goals, of which $4.1M has been raised in a most difficult economic climate. “Since my arrival in Philadelphia,” says Executive Director Devan, “I have felt privileged to serve an arts institution with such a strong, vibrant constituency, in a city with rich and diverse cultural roots. Robert has always had an unflagging commitment to bringing the finest voices and the most innovative creative teams to Philadelphia, so it’s been easy to get excited about working with him, with Corrado, and with our dedicated and passionate Board of Directors to put unique, high quality opera on stage at the Academy of Music and the Perelman Theater. We look forward to our continued success in maintaining opera as an important part of our community.” Prior to coming to Philadelphia, Devan’s posts included Executive Director of Pacific Opera Victoria for nine years, and previous positions as director of marketing for Opera Ontario, Toronto’s Canadian Opera Company and Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. A native of Canada, Devan is a graduate of Brock University in Ontario and Stanford University’s Business Executive Program. -##- The Opera Company of Philadelphia has two productions remaining in the current season. From April 24 – May 3, a double bill of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Ravel’s L'enfant et les sortilèges runs at the Academy of Music in a new production from Robert Driver and Italian designer Guia Buzzi. From June 5 – 14, Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia runs at the Perelman Theater, starring Tamara Mumford, Nathan Gunn and William Burden. The 2009-2010 Season features two series of opera. Opera at the Academy features Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (October ‘09); the East Coast Premiere of Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul (February ‘10); and Verdi’s La traviata (May ‘10). Opera at the Perelman features the Curtis Opera Theatre production of Barber’s Antony & Cleopatra (March ’10) and Gluck’s Orphée & Eurydice (June ’10).
Press Releases
For Immediate Release: March 31, 2009
Contact: Tracy C. Galligher215-893-3600, ext. 204galligher@operaphila.org
David B. Devan Appointed Executive Director of Opera Company of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA: Opera Company of Philadelphia Board Chairman Stephen A. Madva is pleased to announce that the Opera Company Board of Directors has appointed David B. Devan, who has served as Managing Director since his arrival in January 2006, to the post of Executive Director. Under this new leadership structure, General and Artistic Director Robert B. Driver will return to his post as Artistic Director, which he held from 2001-2004.
“The fact that the Opera Company of Philadelphia is facing these challenging times with a solid strategic plan and a cohesive board and administration is largely due to David’s hard work and hands-on management,” said Board Chairman Madva. “His accomplishments, in tandem with a strong and productive partnership with Robert Driver, Music Director Corrado Rovaris and the Board, merit this new degree of leadership.”
Artistic Director Robert Driver shares, “From the earliest moments in our search for the new position of managing director, our plan was to find a candidate who could naturally move into the position of executive director, allowing me to focus more on the artistic product in collaboration with Corrado. David’s extensive background in the business of opera management has made him an invaluable asset. We are steering through difficult financial waters while continuing to produce opera at a very high quality, and I look forward to our team continuing to do so together.”
Devan arrived at the Opera Company of Philadelphia in January 2006 following an extensive North American search, spearheaded by Driver and funded by the William Penn Foundation, to identify a managing director to oversee all income-generating departments as well as board development and community programs. Since his arrival, he has worked closely with board and administration on strategic planning initiatives and building partnerships within the community. Key achievements born out of these initiatives have included the first cycle of the education department’s Hip H’Opera collaboration with Arts Sanctuary’s after-school program; the successful partnership between the Opera Company, Curtis Institute of Music and Kimmel Center Presents to produce a fully-staged opera each season at the Perelman Theater with joint marketing strength; OCP’s selection for a Wallace Foundation Excellence Award to support marketing programs; and a $5 million fundraising campaign supporting the company’s artistic goals, of which $4.1M has been raised in a most difficult economic climate.
“Since my arrival in Philadelphia,” says Executive Director Devan, “I have felt privileged to serve an arts institution with such a strong, vibrant constituency, in a city with rich and diverse cultural roots. Robert has always had an unflagging commitment to bringing the finest voices and the most innovative creative teams to Philadelphia, so it’s been easy to get excited about working with him, with Corrado, and with our dedicated and passionate Board of Directors to put unique, high quality opera on stage at the Academy of Music and the Perelman Theater. We look forward to our continued success in maintaining opera as an important part of our community.”
Prior to coming to Philadelphia, Devan’s posts included Executive Director of Pacific Opera Victoria for nine years, and previous positions as director of marketing for Opera Ontario, Toronto’s Canadian Opera Company and Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. A native of Canada, Devan is a graduate of Brock University in Ontario and Stanford University’s Business Executive Program.
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The Opera Company of Philadelphia has two productions remaining in the current season. From April 24 – May 3, a double bill of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Ravel’s L'enfant et les sortilèges runs at the Academy of Music in a new production from Robert Driver and Italian designer Guia Buzzi. From June 5 – 14, Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia runs at the Perelman Theater, starring Tamara Mumford, Nathan Gunn and William Burden.
The 2009-2010 Season features two series of opera. Opera at the Academy features Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (October ‘09); the East Coast Premiere of Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul (February ‘10); and Verdi’s La traviata (May ‘10). Opera at the Perelman features the Curtis Opera Theatre production of Barber’s Antony & Cleopatra (March ’10) and Gluck’s Orphée & Eurydice (June ’10).
