Edmonton Opera Announces Appointment of New Executive Director: Robin Whiffen

Edmonton, AB – Monday, September 9th, 2024 – Edmonton Opera is excited to announce the appointment of Robin Whiffen as its new Executive Director.

A dynamic leader with a proven track record in arts administration, Robin brings over eight years of experience in the opera sector, a passion for community engagement, and a deep commitment to creating greater representation and sustainability in opera. 

Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Robin most recently served as the General Director of Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) in Toronto, where she led significant growth and innovative projects. Under her leadership, AtG's JUNO-nominated Messiah/Complex garnered international acclaim and won the inaugural OPERA America Digital Excellence Award. Robin’s focus on accessibility and diversity in opera has been central to her work, including producing films such as Sāvitri, BOUND, and Identity: A Song Cycle. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Robin to the Edmonton Opera family," said Joel Ivany, Artistic Director of Edmonton Opera. "Her visionary leadership and deep commitment to both artists and audiences align perfectly with our goals of making opera more accessible and relevant in today's world." 

Robin also served as General Manager of Opera on the Avalon, where she played a pivotal role in expanding opera’s reach by fostering innovative collaborations that engaged new and diverse audiences in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

As a strategic leader, she is recognized for her values-driven approach, fostering collaboration, belonging, and accessibility. 

In addition to her artistic and managerial experience, Robin is an advocate for women in the opera sector and emerging artists. She co-chairs both the Association for Opera in Canada’s Board of Directors and the OPERA America Women’s Opera Network Steering Committee. She is also a candidate for a Master of Business Administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland, complementing her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto. 

“I am honored to join Edmonton Opera and work alongside such talented and passionate individuals,” said Robin. “Together, I am confident we can continue to build on the company's rich legacy and amplify opera’s role in shaping Edmonton’s cultural landscape.” 

Robin’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Edmonton Opera, as the company looks ahead to its upcoming season and beyond. Her leadership is poised to enhance the organization’s mission to create transformative opera experiences for diverse audiences across the region. 

“I believe that a vibrant cultural scene is essential to the vitality of any city, and opera has a unique role to play in that,” Robin added. “Through my work at Edmonton Opera, I’m excited to contribute to fostering an inclusive and dynamic arts community that reflects and enriches the lives of its people.” 

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Jelena Bojic, Marketing Consultant  
Edmonton Opera 
Phone: 780.716.4502 
Email: Jelena.bojic@edmontonopera.com 

Edmonton Opera innovates and collaborates to keep costs low

 
 

“This is the first (show) where we’ve kind of looked at our model of how we’ve done business together differently,” Ivany said. “And so we’re both a little bit more invested in the success of how well it goes, meaning we’ve got some different levels of commitment as it relates to how many tickets we sell, for example. So, it’s kind of this shared model of we’re both in this together and we’re both wanting this to succeed.”

Your invitation into a world of dreams: Peter Hinton-Davis directs a chamber version of Das Rheingold at Edmonton Opera

 
 

In Hinton-Davis’s conception, Wotan, the king of the gods, “is a conductor who has a dream of doing the Ring; he’s haunted by it.” His production takes place in a hotel room, “a messy dishevelled hotel room” where in the opening scene Wotan is sleeping in a bed surrounded by scores and take-out containers. “The opera itself is a dream of what he wants to create.” And Wotan has dreams within dreams.

Edmonton Opera presents human side of Wagner’s Das Rheingold

 
 

“You’re always trying to look for images and ways of telling the story that don’t fall into cliches,” he notes. “You want an audience to always be slightly behind. Meaning that they’re always thinking ‘What’s going to happen next? Who is that? What are they going to do?’ It has to be as surprising as it was for audiences in the 19th century when it was first written, but using imagery and language from our own time.”

Edmonton Opera's 'La Bamba' Playoff Anthem

THE LIST: Shining a light on Edmonton's biggest entertainment highlights on 2024

If you’re under 21 and haven’t yet grabbed a free opera ticket being gifted for the 2023/24 season as Edmonton Opera celebrates its 60th year, there are a few productions left, including Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold (The Ring). The production shocked the world when first performed in 1869, and despite the parallels of Gods, giants, dwarves and a magic golden ring, J. R. R. Tolkien insists any comparison with his work beyond the ring is mere conjecture. 

Edmonton Opera announces Holly Kroeker as Head of Artistic Operations

After undertaking a multi-stage selection process including candidate evaluation via the Work Personality Index, our search committee is excited to announce Holly Kroeker will be joining Edmonton Opera as Head of Artistic Operations.  

 Raised in Grande Prairie and a proud Albertan, Holly is excited to be returning to her roots to join Edmonton Opera as Head of Artistic Operations.  

 

Holly brings strong experience in arts administration coupled with a deep knowledge of the opera industry.  Most recently, she served for three seasons as the Artistic and Administrative Associate for the Atelier Lyrique at Opera de Montréal where she worked with the emerging professional artists as a member of the leadership team, helping to coordinate, facilitate, and develop one of Canada’s most dynamic young artist training programs.  

 

Holly has an undergraduate degree in Piano Performance (University of Alberta) and a master's degree in collaborative piano (University of Toronto). She is a graduate of the Yulanda M. Faris Program (Vancouver Opera), the Atelier Lyrique (Opera de Montreal) and the Opera in the 21st Century program (Banff Centre) - where she is currently a resident faculty member.  

 

In addition to artistic administration, Holly is an accomplished opera coach and repetiteur. She has worked on the music staffs of several opera companies across Canada including Vancouver Opera, Opera de Montreal, Against the Grain Theatre, Opera Kelowna, and our very own Edmonton Opera! 

 

 We are thrilled to welcome Holly to the team! 

Staged concert opera trims costs and underscores the music, but it's tricky to market

“In opera, staging exists on a spectrum. At one end, there is “grand” opera, that barely mov­able feast, with its complex sets and glamorous costumes. At the other end is “concert” opera, where singers typically dress in for­mal attire and stand in front of an orchestra, distilling the art form to only its musical elements.” - David Patrick Stearns, Opera America