Joseph Specter Selected to Lead Arizona Opera as President and General Director

The Arizona Opera Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Joseph Specter as its new president and general director.

Specter is currently the general director for Austin Opera, where he successfully led the $3.8 million company through a significant era of growth, overseeing a 30 percent increase in its annual operating budget while maintaining fiscal solvency. He also led Austin Opera through a strategic rebranding process to increase its visibility and connection to the community.

Trained as a singer at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Specter appeared in more than 20 operatic and musical theater roles during his time as a singer. He also holds a degree in political science from Tufts University.

Like Arizona Opera, the Texas company has endeavored to balance the presentation of challenging works alongside traditional repertoire to develop new audiences and funders. Specter’s dedication to American opera includes the presentation of Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men in the current season, as well as the new work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, The Manchurian Candidate, scheduled for Austin’s upcoming 2016/2017 season.

Specter will take the helm of Arizona Opera on July 1. He takes over for General Director Ryan Taylor who successfully guided the company through a critical time and recently transitioned to Minnesota Opera to lead its $10 million operation.

Specter comes to Arizona with his wife, Kate, and their two daughters, Sophie, 8, and Charlotte, 4.