Portland, Oregon (November 28, 2023). Portland Opera is pleased to formally announce that Alexis Walker is the company’s second Ensemble Leaders Fellow, having joined the company in September 2023, for the 2023/24 season. The Ensemble Leaders Fellowship was developed to move the art form forward by providing career advancement opportunities for individuals who have been historically underrepresented in the world of opera, in both administrative and artistic roles. The pilot year took place during the 2021/22 season with Jasmine Johnson named as the first Ensemble Leaders Fellow. She returned for the 2022/23 season and has since joined the Portland Opera staff.
Each fellowship is unique and based on the goals, strengths, and leadership journey of the chosen candidate. Since joining the company in September, Walker has been working as part of the External Affairs team for the first months of her fellowship. She is working with the company to define her program and areas of focus for the remainder of the season.
"The experience so far has been so eye opening!” shares Walker. “As a performer myself, I didn’t fully understand all the work it takes to run an arts organization. In just the few months I have been here, my understanding has deepened as I continue the fellowship program. I am grateful for the people I have met, and what I am being taught every time I step into the building."
“We are delighted to be working with Alexis Walker this season,” says Sue Dixon, General Director of Portland Opera. “We learned so much from our initial pilot program with Jasmine Johnson that has allowed us to continue to customize this program for each individual participant. We believe strongly in this program and look forward to supporting new leaders through hands-on professional development and mentorship in our field.”
Alexis Walker earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in Vocal Performance at Pacific University, where her mentors and teachers included Dr. Scott Tuomi, Mrs. Judy A. Rose, and Professor Anne McKee Reed. She is a current member of Pacific University’s Chamber Singers, who had the honor of performing for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in Spokane, Washington in 2022, and at the Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA) Conference in Eugene, Oregon earlier in 2023. Alexis was a featured soloist in “A Gospel Mass” by Robert Ray for All Classical Radio and Pacific University Chamber Singers’ performance of “Wade in the Water,” arranged by Moses Hogan, in April 2023.
Alexis also enjoys working in theater and was the Stage Manager and Assistant Producer in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” produced at Pacific University in March 2023. Currently, Alexis is a vocal instructor and the Voice Program Director at Bach to Rock in Hillsboro, Oregon.