Opera Roanoke Hires Linda Gavel Webb as Executive Director

_20150114_143111Opera Roanoke has named Linda Gavel Webb, an accomplished leader in the non-profit world, its executive director. Webb will share responsibility for the management of Opera Roanoke with Scott Williamson, the Artistic Director, now in his fifth year with the company.

Webb is well known for her successes as Director of Development for Mill Mountain Theatre and for United Way of Roanoke Valley.  She has also served on many non-profit boards of directors and been a strong supporter of the arts during her 24 years in the Valley.

“As we plan for our ambitious 40th anniversary season, we need someone of Linda’s experience and skills to lead our marketing and fundraising initiatives,” said Jeffrey Marks, President of the Opera Roanoke Board of Trustees.  “It certainly helps that Linda is an opera lover and that she has served on the Opera Roanoke Board of Trustees.”

Having taken a few years away from her profession to help care for her terminally ill mother, Webb was ready to get back to work and hoped to find the right fit at the executive director level.  Scott Williamson commented, “Arts organizations depend on community support.  There is no one better than Linda Webb to make the case to southwest Virginia that Opera Roanoke is an outstanding asset.”

Williamson has worn two hats as General and Artistic director since 2010.  He and the Board of Trustees concluded that, with the fortuitous availability of Linda Webb, this is the perfect time to split the jobs.

Opera Roanoke is also fortunate to have Liz Lochbrunner, an experienced arts administrator, as its Director of Operations and Amy Cofield Williamson, a renowned soprano and voice teacher, as Co-Director of the Opera Roanoke Apprentice Artist Program.

Opera Roanoke’s next event is Brews, Tunes and Vines, a musical get-together hosted by Blue Ridge Beverage Company on Thursday, January 22.  Its final major production will be Rossini’s Cinderella, on March 20 and 22.  More information and tickets can be found at operaroanoke.org.

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