Faculty & Administration

Resident Artists of Pittsburgh Opera learn from dedicated guest and resident faculty who represent the best and brightest teachers and performers in the business. Craig Rutenberg, Mikael Eliasen, and Marlena Malas are frequently found in Pittsburgh Opera rehearsal halls and coaching rooms, while young artists over the years have experienced the unique talents of Renate Scotto, Beverly Sills, Regina Resnik, Regine Crespin, Franco Corelli, Luciano Pavarotti, and Sherrill Milnes.

Click on a faculty member's name to see their biography below:
Christopher Hahn, General Director
Antony Walker, Music Director
William J. Powers, Director of Administration and Artistic Operations
Mark Trawka, Director of Musical Studies/Chorus Master
Glenn Lewis, Head of Music
James Lesniak, Associate Coach/Pianist
Shawn M. Fertitta, Resident Artist Program Administrator and Facility Manager

Mark Trawka, Director of Musical Studies

Mark Trawka joined Pittsburgh Opera as Director of Musical
Studies for the prestigious Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist
Training Program in the 2003-2004 season.In the 2006-2007
season, he also took on the position of Chorus Master.

Mr. Trawka coaches and performs with the Resident Artists and
has also accompanied renowned mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti in her Pittsburgh recital appearances. He has been a member of the music staff at Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera and Portland Opera (Oregon), where he was principal pianist and assistant chorus master. Mr. Trawka has served as coach/accompanist at Chautauqua Opera and at Glimmerglass Opera for many summer seasons. In the summer of 2006, he was director of the resident artist program at Berkshire Opera.

Educated at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Southern California, Mr. Trawka began his operatic career in the Houston Opera Studio and in San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program. Marilyn and Howard Bruschi generously sponsor the Director of Musical Studies.