National Opera Association

2020 Cleveland

Our Salt Lake City conference has just concluded, but save the date now for next year's conference at the Hilton Cleveland: January 8-11, 2020.

2019 Annual Conference: Pioneering the Future of Opera Salt Lake City (concluded)

The conference was held January 2-5, 2019, in majestic Salt Lake City at the serene Four-Diamond hotel Little America Hotel Salt Lake City.

Session Recordings

Thanks to Egami A/V, audio and/or video recordings of the conference sessions are available for purchase. Please see the order form for information and to purchase CDs or DVDs!

Conference Schedule

Have a look at the conference schedule to see all of the events offered at this conference:

Conference Schedule Mobile-friendly Schedule

2019 Salt Lake City Conference Highlights

NOA Lifetime Achievement Award

Noted conductor Stephen Lord was honored with NOA's highest award, a Lifetime Achievement Award, at the banquet on Saturday, Jan. 5.

Stephen Lord has been chosen by Opera News as one of the “25 Most Powerful Names in U.S. Opera” (one of four conductors), and is continually praised for conducting both traditional and contemporary operatic works. For his debut with San Francisco Opera, conducting Rigoletto, one critic observed, “He partnered his singers perfectly and gave everything its proper weight – he was master of the score’s details and the orchestra played superbly for him.” He is currently principal conductor of the Michigan Opera Theater, music director for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and formerly was music director of Boston Lyric Opera. He has also served as artistic director of opera studies at the New England Conservatory, overseeing all aspects of the opera training program and conducting one main stage production a year.

"Lift Every Voice" Award

Soprano Harolyn Blackwell joined the esteemed ranks of recipients of NOA's Legacy Project's "Lift Every Voice" award at the banquet on Saturday, Jan. 5.

One of the brightest stars on stages in the US and abroad, charismatic soprano Harolyn Blackwell has been hailed by audiences and critics alike as a “model of agility, spunk, charm and silvery tone.” Recognized for her expressive and exuberant performances, as well as for her radiant voice, she is making a wide and varied career on opera, concert and recital stages of the world.

Keynote Speaker at Opening Lunch

Michael Ballam, Founder and General Director of the Utah Festival Opera Company

Michael Ballam has received critical acclaim with the major opera companies of the USA and a recital career in the most important Concert Halls of four continents. His operatic repertoire includes more than 600 performances of over 70 major roles sharing the stage with the world's greatest singers. At the age of 24, Dr. Ballam became the youngest recipient of the degree of Doctor of Music with Distinction in the history of Indiana University. An accomplished pianist and oboist, he is the Founder and General Director of the Utah Festival Opera Company, which is fast becoming one of the nation's major Opera Festivals. He is the author of over 30 publications and recordings in international distribution and serves on the Board of Directors of four professional Arts organizations.