BROOKLYN OPERA COMPANY AMERICAN OPERA PROJECTS NAMES ANNE TROY AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
NEW YORK, NY, January 10, 2017— Brooklyn-based nonprofit arts organization American Opera Projects (AOP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Troy as its new Director of Development. Troy will create, implement, and oversee all fundraising and development activities of the organization that has developed and presented new works of opera across the country for over 25 years.
At this critical juncture in AOP’s history, in which the organization’s operating budget has more than doubled in the past two years with the premieres of critically-lauded and commercially successful new operas such as As One and Hagoromo (BAM Next Wave Festival), the Director of Development will continue to stimulate that growth by deepening the fundraising capacity of AOP at all levels, from individual contributions and board development, to foundation and government support. The creation of the Director of Development position is funded in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Troy served as Development Director of the New York City Mayor's Fund, the Marilyn Horne Foundation, and Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development as well as on fundraising projects for the Martina Arroyo Foundation, Martha Graham Dance Company, and the YMCA of Greater New York. Before moving into development, Troy was a creative supervisor at Young & Rubicam Direct Marketing. Her career shifted from advertising to social issues when she left to help launch Habitat for Humanity in New York City and work for services and housing for homeless and HIV-positive New Yorkers, including starting the first school in a homeless shelter in the US.
“I am proud to announce that Anne Troy has accepted the position of Development Director,” writes General Director Charles Jarden. “Anne is a great match for this brand new position at AOP. As a former development staff member of The Marilyn Horne Foundation plus being knowledgeable about the opera field in general, she knows the scene from a personal vantage point. She has also had a distinguished career in social justice focusing on affordable housing and economic development advocacy. This AOP position will give Anne an opportunity to bring together her interests and passions—and we will benefit from her broad experience and expertise.”
Founded in 1988, American Opera Projects is at the forefront of the contemporary opera movement, commissioning, developing, presenting, and producing opera and music theatre projects, collaborating with young, rising, and established artists, and engaging audiences in unique and transformative theatrical experiences. AOP has produced over 30 world premieres, including the Nathan Davis/Brendan Pelsue dance chamber opera Hagoromo starring Wendy Whelan (BAM, 2015), Kaminsky/Reed/Campbell's As One (BAM, 2014), Nkeiru Okoye's Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom (Irondale Center, 2014), and Lera Auerbach's The Blind (co-production with Lincoln Center Festival, 2013) and the upcoming 2017 co-production with Nashville Opera of Robert Paterson’s Three Way (Nashville Opera, BAM Fisher). AOP-developed operas that premiered with co-producers include Stefan Weisman's The Scarlet Ibis at PROTOTYPE Festival (2015), Gregory Spears' Paul's Case at Urban Arias (2013) and PROTOTYPE Festival and Pittsburgh Opera (2014), Jack Perla's Love/Hate at ODC Theater with San Francisco Opera (2012), Stephen Schwartz's Séance on a Wet Afternoon at New York City Opera (2011), Tarik O'Regan's Heart of Darkness at London's Royal Opera House (2011) and Opera Parallèle (2015), and the upcoming The Summer King by Daniel Sonenberg at Pittsburgh Opera (2017).
AOP is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, and is a member of OPERA America, Fort Greene Association, the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Alliance, the New York Opera Alliance, and Alliance of Resident Theatres/ New York (A.R.T./NY).