How did you get involved with the opera?
My fascination with the arts started in college, where I took classes in theater history (as a break from studying Economics texts) and eventually wrote my thesis on public funding for the arts. I began ushering at San Francisco Opera while starting my career in food and beverage, and from my first Madame Butterfly, I was captivated by the scale, spectacle and drama of opera. Then came the years when I spent more time on soccer sidelines than in auditoriums while raising my daughter. Now, with her successfully launched, I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to reconnect with the arts and support the Opera here in our beloved Portland.
What would you like community members to know?
I’ve had the privilege of serving organizations with long histories, and it has given me a great appreciation for the responsibility that comes with stewardship. The goal isn’t to choose between tradition and change, but to understand what is essential to preserve and where we need to evolve. I hope we can bring as many people along with us as possible, honoring what generations have built while ensuring Portland Opera remains vibrant and meaningful for the audiences of the future.
