Knoxville Opera has announced the addition of three highly respected opera professionals to its artistic team for the 2022-23 season as part of a reorganization the company is undertaking  with the upcoming conclusion of Artistic Director Brian Salesky’s contract.

Salesky, who has served as executive and artistic director from 2005-2020 and as artistic director since 2020, will finish out the current season’s productions of Mefistofele, the Puccini Gala Concert and the 2022 Rossini Festival.

Executive Director Jason Hardy, who was hired in 2020 as interim director and moved to Knoxville in July of this year to work full time, will become general director and CEO. The new artistic team will include Dean Anthony as the company’s producing director; Elizabeth Moore as music coordinator; and Keturah Stickann as artistic advisor.

Don Townsend, who has worked for Knoxville Opera since its inception, will remain as the company’s production manager, and Dr. Loneka Wilkinson Battiste will remain as director of education and community engagement.

To help guide Knoxville Opera’s visual, theatrical and musical planning for future productions and civic engagement activities, the newcomers will serve in an advisory capacity this season and begin their official appointments in July 2022. 

According to Hardy, the new artistic model will allow the Knoxville Opera to bring in a wide variety of directors and conductors and continue to give opportunities to rising singers in the industry.