Kentucky Opera Names Ian Derrer as New General Director

@KYOpera announces the appointment of our new General Director, Ian Derrer. Ian joins us from @TheDallasOpera, and boasts experience from some of the nation's most esteemed opera companies. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #YPOP #YNotPOP #KYOpera #KentuckyOpera #Opera #ArtIs #Operatunity #LouisvilleArts #KentuckyArts #Louisville #LouisvilleKY #LouisvilleKentucky #Kentucky #IgersLouisville #ShareLouisville #KentuckyKicksAss #HowWeLou #Do502 #MyLouisville #LouisvilleLove #LouisvilleLocal #BestOfLou #ExploreLouisville #EverythingLouisville #LouisvilleApproved #GetOutLouisville #KeepLouisvilleWeird #BluegrassState #YesLouisville #DerbyCity
A photo posted by YPOP of Kentucky Opera (@ypop_ky) on Jun 27, 2016 at 7:24am PDT

The Kentucky Opera has announced its selection of Ian Derrer as the company's new general director. The appointment comes nearly a year after the death of its previous leader, David Roth, who had served in the post since 2006. Derrer comes to Kentucky from the Dallas Opera.

President of Kentucky Opera's board of directors, William A. Blodgett Jr., made the announcement Monday which detailed Derrer as the fifth general manager of the company in its 65-year history. Mr. Blodgett discussed their installation of Derrer in a statement:

"Ian Derrer's appointment marks the successful conclusion of a national search to identify the leader whose vision, creativity and knowledge will best guide the future development of Kentucky Opera," Blodgett said in the announcement released by the opera.

An opera administration veteran, Derrer has been with the Dallas Opera since 2014. Previously, he served for Lyric Opera of Chicago (2006-2014) and the New York City Opera (2004-2006).

The new director was hopeful about his upcoming position with the Kentucky Opera, based in Louisville, commending the opera's present form and disclosing his desire to push the company into new territory:

"I like the present form of the company's season with three productions and two performances each. But I think we can find ways to have a wider presence in the community that goes beyond full productions. That would include concerts and masterclasses for the young artists program that is growing," he said.

David Roth, as forenamed, tragically died in a car crash caused by a heart attack in 2015. The stage director was just 56 years old. Prior to his installment as Kentucky Opera's general director, he was director of production and director of finance for the Fort Worth Opera.

Below, watch a preview of the Kentucky Opera's 2015 production of Macbeth.

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