OPERA AMERICA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF
2013 NATIONAL OPERA TRUSTEE RECOGNITION AWARD
Lisa Erdberg (San Francisco Opera), Patricia A. Richards (Utah Symphony | Utah Opera),
Cherie Shreck (Des Moines Metro Opera) and Timothy J. Wagg (Opera North) to be
Honored in New York in February
Bank of America proudly sponsors the
National Opera Trustee Recognition Program
New York, NY—OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award.
In its sixth year, this award honors outstanding trustees of U.S. opera
companies for exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building
efforts on behalf of their respective opera companies.
The recipients of the 2013 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award are Lisa Erdberg of San Francisco Opera, Patricia A. Richards of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Cherie Shreck of Des Moines Metro Opera and Timothy J. Wagg of Opera North.
“We are delighted to be joined by Bank of America in celebrating the significant and enduring contributions of these devoted trustees,” stated Marc A. Scorca,
president/CEO of OPERA America. “The National Opera Trustee Recognition
Award affords the entire opera community an opportunity to salute and
learn from those who have been so generous in their passion for the art
form, vision and support of their opera companies.”
Each
year, OPERA America professional member companies are invited to
nominate one of their trustees for this award. Honorees from each of the
four OPERA America budget levels are chosen by an adjudication
committee through a competitive selection process.
The National Opera Trustee Recognition program is led by OPERA America Board Member Carol F. Henry (chairman of the board of directors’ executive committee, Los Angeles Opera). Committee members include: Elizabeth Eveillard (past chair of the board of trustees, The Glimmerglass Festival), Garry Fredericksen (past president of the board of directors, Indianapolis Opera), Ruth Orth (past chair of the board of trustees, Pensacola Opera) and Fillmore Wood (former vice chairman of the board of directors, Opera Pacific).
“OPERA
America’s commitment to recognizing the multi-faceted contributions of
opera company trustees is inspiring,” stated Chairman of the Board of
Directors Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann, who is also a trustee of the
Metropolitan Opera. “As former chairman of the National Opera Trustee
Recognition Program and a current opera company trustee, I deeply admire
the dedication of all the nominees and am honored to commend their
achievements on a national scale.”
These
honorees represent a significant range of accomplishments, generosity
and a deep devotion to promoting opera in their communities. The
following profiles illustrate just a few examples of their dedication.
Lisa Erdberg, San Francisco Opera (San Francisco, CA)
Lisa
Erdberg, a subscriber to San Francisco Opera since 1993 and a donor
since 1996, has held a number of crucial leadership roles on San
Francisco Opera’s Board of Directors, propelling the mission of the
organization, including the positions of Executive Committee member,
chair of the Directors and Officers Committee and vice president of the
Board. Seeing engagement as essential to San Francisco Opera, Ms.
Erdberg has been personally responsible for the Next Generation Task
Force aimed at developing future audiences and donors. Ms. Erdberg has
revolutionized the San Francisco Opera Board. Through her Engagement
Initiative, she increased the financial contributions from the Board of
Directors and encouraged them to introduce friends and colleagues to the
opera, increasing San Francisco Opera’s audience. Ms. Erdberg
streamlined the election process and created a smoother transition
process for new leaders, making the Board more effective and efficient.
Ms. Erdberg is also deeply dedicated to the financial well-being of San
Francisco Opera. In 2007, Ms. Erdberg made an early pledge to the
Comprehensive Campaign and recently made a significant gift to the
Camerata, San Francisco Opera’s group of visionary donors who fund the
projects that define the company’s international reputation. Donna
Baston, director of foundation and government relations, stated, “Her
involvement and financial support is never about personal recognition.
Rather, it is always about San Francisco Opera and how she can best help
the company be as successful as possible.”
Patricia A. Richards, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (Salt Lake City, UT)
Upon
being appointed vice chair of the newly merged Utah Symphony | Utah
Opera (USUO) in 2004, a position she has called “the hardest assignment
of her life,” Patricia A. Richards now serves as the chair of the USUO
Board of Trustees. A visionary from the inception of the 2002 USUO
merger, Ms. Richards led a special task force early in the merger and
again in 2012 to acquire a better understanding of what has worked, what
hasn’t worked, and how to improve on cooperative internal operations
and relationships moving forward. Ms. Richards served as an instrumental
force in locating a new CEO in 2007, as well as a new music director in
2009, demonstrating her deep commitment to the leadership and personnel
of USUO. She is willing to lead as a fundraiser, government advocacy
representative in the State Legislature, and personally recruits
friends, neighbors and strangers to attend and support USUO.
Additionally, Ms. Richards sought to focus the work of the Board of
Trustees on real governance and strategic issues and aided the
negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement with the Utah
Symphony Musicians and Local 104 on five occasions. After retiring from
her career as a banking professional for Wells Fargo in the
Intermountain West, Ms. Richards and her husband, Bill Nichols, set the
tone for USUO’s comprehensive campaign by donating $1 million dollars,
saying that she “cannot ask others to make such a sacrificial gift
without leading first as board chair.” Since that time, almost $25
million in additional support has been raised. “Pat Richards has been a
pillar of strength for USUO. She has far exceeded any expectation of
what a board chair should do for a nonprofit organization,” stated USUO
President & CEO Melia P. Tourangeau.
Cherie Shreck, Des Moines Metro Opera (Indianola, IA)
Cherie
Shreck’s lifetime contributions to Des Moines Metro Opera have been so
significant that the organization recently named her an honorary member
of its Board of Directors. She was a member the Board for a total of 14
years between 1989 and 2007, including serving as president of the Board
of Directors, Executive Committee member and guild president. Ms.
Shreck has demonstrated dedication to the financial well-being of Des
Moines Metro Opera by organizing the first Salisbury Challenge to raise
$1 million and establishing the Des Moines Metro Opera Foundation over
20 years ago. The Challenge ended up raising more than $4 million.
Additionally, Ms. Shreck helped to lead the Apprentice Artist Endowment
Campaign, the second Salisbury Challenge and the Robert L. Larsen Legacy
Campaign. Her leadership has resulted in the Des Moines Metro Opera
Foundation making an annual disbursement of nearly 25% of the annual
company operating costs. Keenly aware of the importance of exposing
individuals of all ages to the joys of live theater, Ms. Shreck brings
new patrons to opera performances each year and has been a member of the
Des Moines Metro Opera Guild since its inception. Stated Artistic
Director Michael Egel, “Any compliment given, award lauded or applause
rendered for the company is in part similarly accorded for Cherie…[she]
is the epitome of an active and vibrant Board member who believes that
the arts help define who we are not only as a community, but as a
society as a whole.”
Timothy J. Wagg, Opera North (Lebanon, NH)
Timothy
Wagg has been an Opera North volunteer continuously since 1996 after
retiring from a career with Consolidated-Bathurst in Canada. Since that
time, Mr. Wagg has served on the Board of Trustees, the Advisory
Committee and chaired the Finance Committee. He has created a new
revenue source for Opera North by managing sponsors and underwriters for
the season playbill, securing $25,000 for the company annually. Mr.
Wagg works tirelessly to make opera more accessible to larger audiences.
In addition to attending all Opera North performances and recruiting
newcomers, he analyzed Opera North’s demographic data, resulting in a 6%
ticket sales increase. Mr. Wagg has obtained recognition and support
for Opera North through his many corporate and nonprofit relationships.
As Executive Director Pamela Pantos noted, “While the funds are vital to
Opera North’s bottom line, the bonds that have developed have
solidified Opera North’s reputation as a willing community partner.” Mr.
Wagg revolutionized the accounting and financial practices of Opera
North by updating protocols, securing a payroll system and managing
reporting networks. Mr. Wagg also prepares the Opera North annual audit.
After 16 years of dedicated service, Mr. Wagg is “a permanent fixture”
at Opera North and a board member who exemplifies the generosity and
commitment of an award-winning trustee.
OPERA
America’s commitment to recognizing excellence in governance is shared
by its sister organization, Opera.ca, the Canadian national association
for opera. Opera.ca honors
Arthur R.A. Scace, Q.C., a long-time volunteer leader and past president and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Opera Company, as the 2013 recipient of its National Opera Directors Recognition Award.
OPERA
America will pay tribute to these 2013 honorees and celebrate their
remarkable achievements at a dinner and reception on Friday, February
22, in New York City.
The National Opera Trustee Recognition Program is made possible by the generous support of Bank of America.
Previous National Opera Trustee Recognition Program recipients are:
2012
Elizabeth Eveillard, The Glimmerglass Festival
Joseph and Judy Liff-Barker, Nashville Opera
Susan F. Morris, The Santa Fe Opera
William C. Morris, The Metropolitan Opera
Dr. George R. White, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh
2011
Eleanor “Ellie” Caulkins, Opera Colorado
Jackie Lockwood, Dayton Opera
John I. (Jack) Riddle, PORTopera
Lynn Wyatt, Houston Grand Opera
2010
Jeffrey A. Evershed, Portland Opera
Benjamin Keaton, Long Leaf Opera Company
Fred and Eve Simon, Opera Omaha
Marc I. Stern, Los Angeles Opera
2009
James T. Cody, Jr., The Dallas Opera
Richard Holland, Opera Omaha
Beth Ingram, Lyric Opera of Kansas City
C. Guy Rudisill, III, Piedmont Opera
2008
Betty W. Healey, Opera Birmingham
Sally S. Levy, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Jane A. Robinson, Florida Grand Opera
G. Whitney Smith, Fort Worth Opera
For more information about OPERA America, its services, programs and events,
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