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David Speers

General Director Arizona Opera

Arizona Opera's new General Director David Speers arrived in Arizona in July of 1998. He had been unanimously selected by the Arizona Opera Board of Trustees after an extensive search that included over 100 outstanding artistic leaders from the United States and Canada.

Mr. Speers served as General Director of Calgary Opera since 1988. During his eleven year tenure with Calgary Opera, the company has averaged 80% of capacity in attendance, and saw the average age of its audience drop by 15 years. Mr. Speers guided the development of professional fund- raising campaigns and processes within the company, leading to 190% increase in fund-raising over 9 seasons. During the 25th Anniversary Season (1996-97), he led the company to an artistically- acclaimed season and achieved a major operating surplus - allowing Calgary Opera to qualify for application into the "Alberta Performing Arts Stabilization Fund" and a potential entitlement of $500,000. With educational development, Mr. Speers' successes included the cultivation of numerous educational programs including School and Adult Education, Teacher In-Service, Adult Continuing Education programs with the local University and Public School Boards among others.

A formally trained conductor from Julliard, Mr. Speers relinquished his conducting career in 1992 to focus on the duties and responsibilities of General Director. Since 1995, he has served on the Board of Opera America, the national organization of the United States and Canada, with posts on the Membership, Nominating, Professional Development and Information Services Committees. He has also been the chairman of the Professional Opera Companies of Canada since 1993. Mr. Speers holds a B.A. and M.A of Music from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Julliard School of Music, post Graduate Conducting Studies.

He is joined by his wife Cydney and his two children, Robbie and Cailen.