Published13 Mar 2017
Marita Altman joins Opera Philadelphia as Vice President of Development
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MoreDavid B. Devan, General Director & President of Opera Philadelphia, announced today the appointment of Marita Altman as Vice President of Development. Ms. Altman begins her tenure in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 15, after stepping down from her post as Director of Major Gifts at the Metropolitan Opera, where she has worked since 2008. Altman will manage all of the company’s fundraising operations while working alongside members of Opera Philadelphia’s senior management team.
In announcing Altman’s appointment, Devan said: “Marita Altman has a distinguished record of accomplishment as a fundraiser, a passion for opera’s history and possibilities, and a deep commitment to innovation. She has proven very successful in helping to shape institutional plans and goals, and to build the resources needed to support them. At Opera Philadelphia, she will bring the strategic leadership skills, technical expertise, and passion for our mission that we value and need in the time ahead. She will lead a Development team that is committed to the mission of inspiring artists and audiences and creating opera for the 21st century. We are very pleased to welcome Marita to the Opera Philadelphia family.”
Altman’s passion for opera began long before she served nine years in the development department of the Metropolitan Opera, most recently as Director of Major Gifts. At the Met, she was responsible for managing the Major Gift program, as well as the International Council and the Met Orchestra at Carnegie Hall campaigns. Prior to joining the Met, she worked in fundraising for the Columbia Business School, following a career in systems development.
Altman holds an M.B.A. from New York University, and a B.A. from Drew University. She and her husband Michael have two children, Samantha Gardner and Theodore Altman, both of whom love opera.
Opera Philadelphia is a recognized industry leader, known for its bold and innovative artistic approaches. With themes of innovation, excellence, and entrepreneurial ambition at the forefront, Opera Philadelphia’s senior leadership team is evolving as the company propels its brand promise to set new expectations for opera.Altman’s appointment completes the company’s leadership team, which in the fall welcomed Frank Luzi as Vice President of Communications and Ryan Lewis as Vice President of Marketing. Since 2012, Luzi has directed Opera Philadelphia’s branding, communications, publications, and digital media efforts and has led the company to international media recognition from prestigious news organizations. Since 2012, Lewis has innovated all aspects of Opera Philadelphia’s marketing practice, bringing new audiences to the art form while energizing longtime subscribers. They joined an agile leadership team that includes Michael Bolton as Vice President of Community Initiatives; David Levy as Vice President of Artistic Operations; Jeremiah Marks as Chief Financial Officer; and Corrado Rovaris as the Jack Mulroney Music Director.
About Opera Philadelphia
Opera Philadelphia is committed to embracing innovation and developing opera for the 21st century. Described as “the very model of a modern opera company” by the Washington Post, Opera Philadelphia was the only American finalist for the 2016 International Opera Award for Best Opera Company. The company is charting a bold new path to September 2017, when Opera Philadelphia will open its 2017-18 season with an immersive, 12-day festival featuring seven operatic happenings in six venues throughout the city. The first festival, “O17,” will feature three world premieres and a Philadelphia premiere, plus the exclusive East Coast appearance of Barrie Kosky’s groundbreaking production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and a recital by superstar soprano Sondra Radvanovsky. Opera Philadelphia will continue to present a spring season each year, including two additional productions in February and April, making it the only U.S. opera company producing an annual opera season that begins with a dynamic festival. For more information, visit operaphila.org.