Timothy O’Leary named new general director of WNO

Fri Sep 22, 2017 at 3:58 pm

Timothy O’Leary will become general director of Washington National Opera in July of 2018.

Timothy O’Leary has been named general director of Washington National Opera, effective July 1, 2018, the Kennedy Center announced Friday.

O’Leary comes to Washington from the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, where he has served in the same capacity since 2008. He also currently serves as chairman of the board of OPERA America, the national service organization for opera.

“It is a privilege to join the Washington National Opera and this tremendous team,” said O’Leary, in a statement released by the center. “I am excited, honored, and deeply grateful to the WNO board, to the Kennedy Center and Deborah Rutter, and to the whole WNO community. I am also absolutely thrilled to collaborate with Francesca Zambello.”

O’Leary will work closely with WNO’s board and artistic director Francesca Zambello to provide strategic and operational oversight of the entire company.

“Timothy’s impressive stewardship of OTSL has been a model of visionary and inspired management of a modern America opera company,” said Robert Downing, president of the WNO board of trustees. “His demonstrated success in connecting with local communities and audiences while simultaneously setting the agenda on a national stage, also apparent with his chairmanship of Opera America, are a perfect fit with the future strategic direction of the WNO and the Kennedy Center.”

O’Leary succeeds Michael Mael, who stepped down in June 2017 after nine years as executive director with WNO.  


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