After seventeen years at the helm of MassOpera, Founder and Artistic Director, Dana Lynne Varga is stepping down as Artistic Director and transitioning to a new role as Artistic Advisor. All of us at MassOpera thank Dana for her unparalleled vision, commitment to gender parity and equity, and steadfast growth of the company over her nearly twenty years of artistic leadership. As Artistic Advisor, Dana will still oversee the artistic vision and growth of the organization, while passing along the responsibilities of day-to-day artistic management to a new leader.
On behalf of Dana, Executive Director, Will Neely, and the Board of Directors, MassOpera is happy to announce the appointment of Jessica Bloch-Moisand as Interim Artistic Director over the next year, while a formal search for a new Artistic Director is launched. Upon Jessica Bloch-Moisand’s appointment, outgoing Artistic Director, Dana Lynne Varga shared that “it has been seventeen years since I founded MassOpera, which has grown steadily and become a fixture of the Boston music scene. The time has come to pass the baton, and I am thrilled that the multi-talented Jessica Bloch-Moisand has agreed to take on the position of Interim Artistic Director of this great organization. Her vision and innovative spirit are sure to benefit the company as we embark on an exciting year. Welcome Jessica!”
Jessica Bloch-Moisand is the Founder and Creative Producer of Bloch Performing Arts music studios and its collaborative musical company, West End Lyric. She is also a faculty member of the prestigious New England Conservatory’s Expanded Education program. In terms of her role at MassOpera Jessica explains that “as the new Interim Artistic Director, I am incredibly humbled and excited to help shape the next chapter of MassOpera’s journey. I look forward to collaborating with the skillful MassOpera team to continue engaging our audiences, championing the company’s legacy of innovative storytelling in opera, and uplifting our talented and diverse community of musicians, technicians, and artists. Together, we’ll explore new artistic possibilities while staying true to the mission of bringing compelling, equitable, and accessible opera and musical productions to all.”
Over the next season Jessica Bloch-Moisand will be working closely with MassOpera Executive Director Will Neely on an exciting new season, including a Latin American concert this fall, annual MassOpera Party fundraiser in March, a production of Alcina in June, and a couple of other collaborative events scheduled for 2025, including our annual Pride event.
In speaking about this artistic leadership transition, “this is momentous change for MassOpera,” states Executive Director, Will Neely, elaborating further that “I have known Dana for 25 years, since we were both undergrads and it has been a joy and privilege to grow MassOpera with her over the last 12 years. I now look forward to growing MassOpera even more with Jessica. She has accomplished so much in just a short few years with West End Lyric, and she will bring that passion, creativity, and experience to MassOpera.”
You can expect a formal season announcement from MassOpera in October.