Bold. Brave. Brilliant.

Our Team

As is our mission, the Arizona Opera staff strives to elevate the transformative power of storytelling through the music—cultivating community, strengthening a state and people as adventurous and diverse as the place they call home.

 

Arizona Opera Staff

Joseph Specter, President & General Director 

Artistic

Samuel Carroll, Director of Artistic Operations and Marion Roose Pullin Studio
Katherine Kozak, Head of Music, Chorus Director, and Principal Coach of the Pullin Opera Studio
Shawn Campbell, Orchestra Manager
Laura Tagawa, Orchestra Librarian

 

Box Office

Morgan Pruitt, Box Office Manager

 

Community Engagement and Education

Cassie Hollerbach, Director of Education and Community Engagement
Madalyn Kiewiet, Community Engagement & Patron Stewardship Manager

 

Development

Ashley Parks, Director of Development
Michael Hoke, Associate Director of Development, Individual Giving
Abigail Brow, Individual Giving Manager
Molly Flores, Associate Director of Development, Institutional Relations

 

Finance and Administration

Joann Serra, Director of Finance, Administration, & HR
Iryna Comstock, Accounting Associate

 

 

Marketing

Ellen Hinkle, Interim Director of Marketing, Communications, & Public Relations
John McCoy, Marketing Manager

 

Production

Clayton Rodney, Director of Production
Evan Kirschbaum, Production & Artistic Operations Manager
Kris Medrano, Production Electrician
Darian Hrdlicka, Assistant Production Electrician & Programmer
Caleb Hathaway, Sound Supervisor
Cindy Knight, Stage Manager

 

Costume

Shelby Joiner, Costume Shop Manager
Becky Giblin, Master Stitcher

 

Scenic Shop

Ryan Bruner, Head Carpenter and Scenic Shop Manager
Robert Bruner, Steward & Lead Carpenter
Raz Vela, Metalwork
Craig Cheply, Head Scenic Artist

 

Wigs and Makeup

Alita Lopez, Wig & Makeup Manager

 

 

 

Arizona Opera Orchestra

Violin 1

Linda Lambie, Assistant Concertmaster
Galina Sukhina
Mutsuko Tatman
Dasha Hlavenka
Hisami Iijima Dillard
Carla Kountoupes
Jisu Choi

 

Violin 2

Cynthia Baker, Principal
Priscilla Benitez
Laura Tagawa
Tamara Freida
Grave Wills
Luke Hill
Romon Soberano

 

Viola

Christina Beasley, Principal
Vivi Erickson, Assistant Principal
Caroline Ruiz
Katherine Shields
Jeffrey Norman
Monica MacMichael

 

Cello

Debra Pearson, Principal
Mary DiBartolo, Assistant Principal
Margaret Gilmore
Tom Hoisch
Abe Liebhaber
Yeil Park

 

Bass

Chunyang Wang, Principal
Derek DeVelder
Jason Roederer

 

Harp

Lynn Gorman DeVelder, Principal

 

Flute

Paula Redinger, Principal
Melanie Winans

 

Oboe

Neil Tatman, Principal
Scott Morano

 

Clarinet

Brian Viliunas, Principal
Marianne Shifrin

 

Bassoon

Melanie Sanguinetti, Principal

 

Horn

Peter Erb, Principal
Nathan Mitchell
Bruce Hembd
Shawn Campbell

 

Trumpet

James Benitez, Co-Principal
Leslie Linn, Co-Principal

 

Trombone

Martin Demos, Principal
Michael Becker

 

Tuba

Steve Mapes, Principal

 

Timpani

Neil Dunn, Principal

 

Percussion

Corey Ritter, Principal