OPERA WESTERN RESERVE

Award-winning Stage Director Scott Skiba has led more than 75 new productions, earning recognition for his imaginative stage direction and dynamic physical approach to storytelling that is “masterful… ingenious…first-rate…vivid and emotionally charged.” Scott serves as Executive Artistic Director of Cleveland Opera Theater where his recent production of La Traviata was named “the best professional opera production Cleveland has seen in years,” and has made multiple company debuts in recent years including Indianapolis Opera, Pensacola Opera, Opera Tampa, Toledo Opera, Natchez Festival of Music, Opera Grand Rapids, and Mobile Opera. A proponent of new opera, Scott launched {NOW} Fest, Cleveland Opera Theater’s annual festival to create, develop, and produce new opera, and he serves on the Chamber Opera Composition Committee for the National Opera Association. A pioneer in exploring contemporary approaches to producing opera, Scott’s work includes directing and producing interdisciplinary collaborations in alternative and site-specific venues to promote immersive gateway experiences to engage new audiences. Scott Skiba continued An advocate of arts education, Scott serves as Director of Opera Studies for Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Assistant Artistic Director for Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and Movement / Acting Instructor for Music Across The Pond (Oxford and Falmouth UK). Previous appointments include: Executive Director, Oberlin in Italy; Instructor of Voice and Opera Theater, Interlochen Arts Academy; and Associate Instructor of Voice, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Scott devised and directed multiple projects to continue artistic collaboration during the pandemic including: “Opera ON DEMAND” for the Curtis Institute of Music, incorporating green screen, video, and audio technology and remote collaboration; “A Taste of Traviata” a cinematic production adaptation of La Traviata for Opera Western Reserve filmed on site at the historic Stambaugh Auditorium; and the “Operas in Place” project to create nine new short-length operas in collaboration with Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Cleveland Opera Theater, On Site Opera in NYC and 17 World-renowned composers and librettists which will premiere in a virtual event December 1, 2, 3, 2021 at BWVP.org. Recent and upcoming engagements include Don Giovanni (Indianapolis Opera Nov. ‘21), the World-premiere production of La Casa de Bernarda Alba (Baldwin Wallace and Cleveland Opera Theater Feb. ‘22), Le nozze di Figaro (Baldwin Wallace March ‘22), and Orpheus in the Underworld ( Hawaii Performing Arts Festival July ‘22). More info: www.ScottSkiba.com