HISTORY | MISSION | DAVID SPEERS
- GENERAL DIRECTOR
MAESTRO DANIEL LIPTON | OPERA
ONTARIO CHORUS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
COMPANY REPERTOIRE
David Speers Bio
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David Speers became the General and Artistic Director of Opera Ontario in July of 2004, following ten years in that same position with Calgary Opera and five years with Arizona Opera (Phoenix and Tucson).
Mr. Speers received his Bachelor and Master degrees in Music from the University of Alberta in his hometown of Edmonton, and pursued post-graduate conducting studies at The Juilliard School in New York City, the Tanglewood Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival. He has conducted over 50 opera productions and made numerous appearances with symphony orchestras throughout Canada and the U.S.
Throughout his career Mr. Speers has become recognized and widely respected for his ability to identify emerging young talent, and an ability to assemble strong ensemble casts. Works he has produced through his tenure as a General and Artistic Director range from traditional productions of most of the repertoire’s most popular pieces, to critically acclaimed performances of lesser known fare such as Andrea Chenier, Werther, Of Mice and Men, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Don Carlo, La Fanciulla del West, Albert Herring, and Eugene Onegin.
David Speers was the Chairman of The Professional Opera Companies of Canada (now Opera.ca) in 1988 and 1993-98, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Opera America from 1995-2001. He has received awards from The Canada Council, The National Endowment for the Arts (U.S.), Alberta Culture, and the University of Alberta’s Graduate Award in Music. Mr. Speers was named, Arizona Arts Person of the Year in 2000 by the Tucson Citizen.
He resides with his wife and two children in Ancaster, Ontario.
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