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James Wright (Canada), General Director and Chief Executive Officer
James W. Wright has been General Director of Vancouver Opera since August 1999, and holds ultimate staff responsibility for all programming, artistic and administrative functions of the company, including strategic and artistic planning, fund development, advocacy and public relations, and administration. He has 29 years of experience in opera management. Wright has led the company’s efforts to eliminate its deficit, build an accumulated surplus, increase its endowment, and successfully graduate from the Vancouver Arts Stabilization program, as well as increase season ticket sales and significantly increase private contributions. During his tenure, Vancouver Opera has initiated its highly successful “Community Forums”and “Opera Speaks” initiatives, which demonstrate the relevancy of opera to contemporary British Columbia by presenting seminars, panel discussions and other activities related to the company's main stage operas in diverse venues throughout the Lower Mainland, including the Downtown Eastside and the Vancouver Public Library. VO has also successfully introduced “Music! Words! Opera!,” a curriculum-based, classroom-centered program in 17 schools in five Lower Mainland school districts as well as the Central Okanagan District; in addition, the company presents more than 120 in-school performances annually throughout British Columbia. In 2002, Wright named Jonathan Darlington as Music Director and leader of the company’s orchestra, one of only two opera company orchestras in Canada. Wright and his colleagues have dramatically increased the number of major Canadian singers appearing on the VO main stage and have introduced innovative training for young Canadian singers through a series of master classes and workshops led by the finest coaches and teachers in North America. During Wright’s tenure, the company has presented five company premieres, including 2004’s highly acclaimed Der Rosenkavalier, the most ambitious production in the company’s history. In addition, the company commissioned a new opera for young people based on Joy Kogawa's novel "Naomi's Road," which has been performed in schools across BC as well as in Seattle, Alberta and will be presented at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Wright recently announced a commission for a new opera to be created by Canadian composer John Estacio and Canadian playwright John Murrell, to be presented during the company’s 50th anniversary season in 2010. Before moving to Vancouver, Wright held top management positions with the opera companies in Charlotte and Anchorage, and senior programming positions at Tulsa and Kansas City. Wright is a member of the Vancouver Foundation’s Arts and Culture Grants panel; a past member of the Board of Directors and Vice-chair of Opera.ca, the organization of professional Canadian opera companies; and a past member of the Vancouver City Planning Commission. He previously served six years on the Board of Directors of OPERA America and served on its Executive and Education committees. He has also served as a panelist for the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in the United States. Personal interests include birding, horseback riding, reading and travel. [ top ] © Festival 500 Designed by AppleCore Interactive |
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