Pittsburgh, PA
August 20, 2020
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Pittsburgh Opera hires new Director of Production, and Manager of Community Engagement and IDEA Initiatives
Pittsburgh Opera is proud to announce two new hires:
- Steven Grair, Director of Production
- Rebekah Diaz, Manager of Community Engagement and IDEA Initiatives
All patrons who come in for the sale can enter a drawing win a free pair of season tickets to Pittsburgh Opera’s upcoming 2021-22 season’s Benedum Center productions, which includes the company’s first-ever production of Dvořák’s Rusalka, and perennial favorites Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Bizet’s Carmen.
Mr. Grair comes to Pittsburgh from Sarasota Opera, where he served as Director of Production. Prior to that, he was Technical Director at Texas State University, and Production Manager at Opera San Antonio. “Steven brings tremendous vision and a proven track record of overseeing and managing complex operatic productions,” says Hahn.
“Relocating and changing jobs during a global pandemic might appear risky,” says Grair. “But this opportunity was too good to pass up. I have always admired Pittsburgh Opera’s commitment to performing a diverse repertoire, with new works and productions, in multiple venues. I am excited to help Pittsburgh Opera emerge from COVID and perform for live audiences again.”
Ms. Diaz will wear several hats at Pittsburgh Opera. As Manager of Community Engagement she will create mutually-beneficial partnerships with a diverse multitude of community organizations throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. As Manager of IDEA Initiatives, Diaz will oversee Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (“IDEA”) principles and needs for the company, spanning internal company climate and development areas as well as programmatic audience engagement strategies.
A graduate of both Carnegie Mellon University and the Manhattan School of Music, Diaz also earned a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Diaz Inclusion Consulting, which provides Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity solutions for non-profit, arts, and cultural organizations.
“We are thrilled to have Rebekah aboard,” says Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn. “She is the right person to help take our community engagement efforts to the next level. And her dedication to IDEA principles will help Pittsburgh Opera achieve the continual improvement in these areas which is important to our organization.”
“It’s wonderful to be doing work I’m passionate about at an organization I love,” says Diaz. “Opera set my life on a path that opened a world that would have otherwise not been in my reach, and it’s very fulfilling to share this art form with others, especially with those who haven't been exposed to it before.”
