Leadership

Pittsburgh Opera's leadership is a unique team of administrative, artistic, and musical directors working in collaboration with an experienced board of directors to bring extraordinary opera productions to the Pittsburgh community.

Christopher Hahn, General Director
Antony Walker, Music Director
Jennie B. Leghart, Director of Finance
John Federico, Director of Development
Debra Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
William J. Powers, Director of Administration and Artistic Operations
Marilyn Michalka Egan, Ph.D., Director of Education
Jerome Sherk, Director of Production

Christopher Hahn, General Director

Christopher Hahn was appointed General Director of Pittsburgh Opera in 2008, having served as Artistic Director since 2000. Since then he has significantly enriched the company’s repertoire, introducing Baroque and contemporary operas presented in a variety of production styles. Trained in his native South Africa, Mr. Hahn began his career in opera in 1983 at San Francisco Opera as Rehearsal Administrator. He then managed the San Francisco Opera Center, including the world-renowned Merola Opera Program, the country’s leading training program for American singers. Following his 13-year tenure in San Francisco, he served as Artistic Administrator at Los Angeles Opera with Plácido Domingo and Peter Hemmings. Mr. Hahn’s expertise in recognizing young vocal talent has made him a sought-after juror at American and international vocal competitions, including the Bernstein Competition (Jerusalem), Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition, the Francisco Viñas Competition (Barcelona), the McAllister Awards, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Antony Walker, Music Director

Pittsburgh Opera Music Director Antony Walker is widely recognized as one of the hottest talents in the opera field today. He conducted the opening of the 2006–07 New York City Opera season with Handel’s Semele, starring Elizabeth Futral and Vivica Genaux. Walker currently serves as Artistic Director of the Washington Concert Opera in Washington D.C., co-Artistic Director of Pinchgut Opera in Australia, and Music Director of Cantillation and the Orchestra of the Antipodes. He was Chorusmaster and Staff Conductor for Welsh National Opera from 1998–2002, and Musical Director of Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra from 1992–1997. Since his conducting debut in 1991, the exciting and prolific Walker has led 52 operas, 47 large scale choral/orchestral works and numerous symphonic and chamber works with companies in Europe, the U.S., and Australia. His extraordinary career includes engagements with Opera Australia, Welsh National Opera, New York City Opera, Rome Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and Sydney Opera House Orchestra.

Jennie B. Leghart, Director of Finance

Jennie Leghart joins Pittsburgh Opera in May 2009 after several years with Manchester Bidwell Corporation, as Director of Finance. She has also been the Senior Accounting Manager for Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, GA, Controller for the Institute for Shipboard Education in Pittsburgh, and Operations Manager and Bookkeeper for Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Boston Conservatory. Ms. Leghart will preside over the annual budget and long-range plan, management of endowment investments, operations risk analysis, and cash flow forecasting, as well as preparation of financial statements and coordinating annual audit.

John Federico, Director of Development

John Federico, Director of Development, re-joined the staff of Pittsburgh Opera as Director of Development in March 2010, after spending five years in the same capacity at City Theatre, Pittsburgh’s home for new plays. At City Theatre, Federico guided and executed all activities aimed at generating contributed support for the LORT D theatre on the historic South Side, including individual giving, corporate sponsorship and membership, foundation and government grants and special events. Federico’s efforts resulted in the strongest fundraising results for a five-year period in the theatre’s 35 year history. Between 1997 and 2004, Federico was the Associate Director of Development and then Director of Development for Pittsburgh Opera, during which time the opera company successfully completed two major fundraising campaigns, which together resulted in more than $20 million in contributions. Federico received his undergraduate degree from Fordham College of Fordham University and a graduate degree in performing arts management from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

Debra Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications

Before joining PIttsburgh Opera in September 2008, Debra Bell worked as Marketing Director for the prestigious Glimmerglass Opera, near Cooperstown, New York. Before that, Ms. Bell worked for five years in Marketing and Audience Development at Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She was co-founder and Managing Director of Words and Music of Beaufort, Inc. and was instrumental in starting the satellite gallery project for the Mississippi Museum of Art. She has served many churches as their Music Director. Ms. Bell holds a BA in Church Music from Belhaven College, an MA in Arts Administration from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati.

William J. Powers, Director of Administration and Artistic Operations

William Powers joined Pittsburgh Opera as Director of Artistic Administration in 2007. Mr. Powers holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Hamilton College and an MBA in Finance and Management from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Business Administration. After serving as Administrative Director of Juilliard’s Department of Vocal Arts and the Juilliard Opera Center, Mr. Powers joined The Metropolitan Opera’s Artistic Department as the Associate Director of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. In 2003 Mr. Powers was appointed General Director of the Berkshire Opera Company, a summer festival located in western Massachusetts, where he was responsible for all aspects of the organization, ranging from strategic and financial planning to marketing, fundraising, production, and artistic administration.

Marilyn Michalka Egan, Ph.D., Director of Education

Marilyn Michalka Egan has taught students from pre-school through graduate school how to learn, how to make music, and how to teach. She uses student-centered principles in her teaching to help students experience the joy and motivation of discovering effective ways to learn. Dr. Egan has degrees in Music Education, Theory, and Orff certification from Duquesne University; the Dalcroze Eurhythmics Certificate and License from Carnegie Mellon University; and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Kent State University.

Jerome Sherk, Director of Production

Jerome Sherk joined Pittsburgh Opera in 2007. Mr. Sherk is responsible for the planning, budgeting, and execution of all technical aspects of the mainstage and education programs. Jerome came to the Pittsburgh Opera from the New Orleans Opera Association, where he was also Director of Production. From 2001–2003 Jerome was the Director of Production at the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Prior to OCP, Jerome was the Production Stage Manager for San Francisco Opera for 21 years. Jerome graduated from Manhattan School of Music in 1970 with a Bachelor of Music degree in French horn performance and music theory.