Aug 10
2

MS Opera Artistic Director

Mississippi Opera Announces New Artistic Director

The Mississippi Opera Association recently announced the selection of a new artistic director, Jay Dean, of Hattiesburg, MS. Mrs. Ann A. Simmons, of Columbia, serves on the Board of the Mississippi Opera Association, and is most pleased with the selection of Dean as Artistic Director.

Dean brought Plácido Domingo to Mississippi in 2005 and Renée Fleming to Mississippi Opera in 2010. The talent, experience and artistic insight he brings to Mississippi Opera promise a great future to the association.

As an artist and a musician in Mississippi for the past 20 years, Dean has personally celebrated each of Mississippi Opera’s many successes. “It is something truly special to have a colleague who already understands our strengths and who has worked with us during the past five seasons on collaborative productions that were both artistically and financially rewarding,” said executive director Elizabeth Buyan.

“I am honored to have been selected as the new artistic director of Mississippi Opera,” said Dean. “This nationally known organization has a long, rich history. It also has a bright future and an important role to play in the cultural life of our entire state. I am looking forward to working with the board of directors, supporters, and Jackson-area musicians to continue the excellent and meaningful work of this significant Mississippi arts organization.”

“Mississippi Opera is in a strong, stable condition, thanks to the leadership of the previous artistic director, Alan Mann, and diligent, committed Board members,” said Hogan Allen, Board President and search committee member. “Mississippi Opera is the tenth oldest continuously producing opera company in the United States, and we are excited to enter our next phase.”

Dr. Colman Pearce, composer, pianist and former music director and principal conductor of Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, said that he has admired Dean’s work in Mississippi for the past twenty years.

“He has proven himself to be an excellent organizer, administrator, entrepreneur and conductor,” stated Pearce. “Dean has had the vision to associate with solo artists of world renown featuring Itzhak Perlman, John Browning, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and Yo-Yo Ma. I personally admired his performance of Carmen with the superb Denyce Graves in the title role.”

“We were flattered by the elite group of applicants interested in the position of artistic director,” Buyan said. “We received applications and recommendations from all over the world, and we found the perfect fit for Mississippi Opera.”

Dean will assume his new duties with Mississippi Opera effective immediately. His performance debut as artistic director will be “Passion and Fireworks: The Heart of Opera” on November 6, 2010 at Belhaven University Center for the Arts at 7:30 PM. Dean will continue in his full-time position as music director of The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and work with Mississippi Opera on a part-time basis. Other 2010/11 season events include “Dance with the Stars” a fund-raising event on August 20, 20110, Metropolitan Opera soprano Susanna Phillips in concert on January 14, 2011, and The Barber of Seville on April 9, 2011.

Mississippi Opera is a non-profit organization that produces professional opera performances, promotes the understanding and appreciation of opera through education and expansion of audiences, and implements programs to identify and develop regional operatic talent. Founded in 1945, Mississippi Opera is celebrating its 66th anniversary season.

For more information, contact Sherry Harfst, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for The Mississippi Opera Association at 601-960-2300.