DEAN WILLIAMSON APPOINTED FIRST MUSIC DIRECTOR
OF NASHVILLE OPERA
In addition to the 2015-16 season, General and Artistic Director of Nashville Opera, John Hoomes, also announced the appointment of Maestro Dean Williamson as the company's first Music Director. In his new role, Maestro Williamson will work closely with Mr. Hoomes to select future productions, prepare the Nashville Opera Orchestra, and be Nashville Opera's primary conductor. This past season, Maestro Williamson led the Nashville Opera Orchestra for Carly Simon's Romulus Hunt and Daniel Cat�n's Florencia en el Amazonas. In addition, he oversaw all of the musical arrangements for the recordings of The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat and Romulus Hunt, which are currently being prepared for commercial release. Next season he will lead Hydrogen Jukebox, Cos� fan tutte, and Die Fledermaus. 

 "Maestro Williamson has been a frequent collaborator and a valued resource," said John Hoomes. "Long considered one of the most respected conductors, Maestro Williamson is considered an expert in both traditional and contemporary opera. His addition to our artistic team will be yet another critical milestone in the growth and development of Nashville Opera." Dean Williamson is widely known throughout the United States for his perceptive and commanding conducting. His ambitious and versatile career in standard and contemporary repertoire earns the conductor worldwide acclaim. Maestro Williamson has served as the artistic director of Opera Cleveland, in addition to being the principal coach and pianist for Seattle Opera for 12 years. He also was the music director of the company's
Young Artists Program for five years, conducting all of the program's productions from 1999 to 2007.

Maestro Williamson is frequent guest conductor at major opera companies, including Seattle Opera, Opera Colorado, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Arizona Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, San Francisco Opera's Merola Program, and Minnesota Opera. His Nashville Opera credits include, Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah, La fanciulla del West, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field, La Cenerentola, and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat.

"I am honored to join Nashville Opera as it moves into a new era," said Maestro Williamson. "High artistic standards, excellent musicians, and innovative programming have made it an important force in American opera. Working with John Hoomes and his creative team is most inspiring and I look forward to many amazing productions together."