The Board of Melbourne Opera has announce the appointment of Suzanne Chaundy in the role of Executive Director. A longstanding production director for the company whose productions include the Bendigo Ring Cycle and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Royal Exhibition Building, Chaundy has also directed stagings of operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Bellini, Weber and Weill. 

She has also managed the Richard Divall Emerging Artists Program since its inception.

Suzanne Chaundy. Portrait © Nicole Cleary

Executive Director is a new role in the company, created to oversee Melbourne Opera’s future development. Chaundy’s background in the not-for-profit arts sector includes considerable leadership work with Strange Fruit, Anthill Theatre (Australian Nouveau Theatre) and TheatreWorks.

“Melbourne Opera has an exceptionally important role in the ecology of opera in Australia,” said Chaundy. “The creation of this role is such a bold step for the company, which has operated with only one full time employee up to now. I look forward to working even more closely with the board and my colleagues to continue our great work. I aim to find new partners and create more opportunities for our thriving hotbed of operatic talent in this state.”