MARK TAYLOR APPOINTED TO LEAD STATE OPERA SOUTH AUSTRALIA
State Opera South Australia has today announced that Mark Taylor has been appointed as its new Executive Director, starting next month.
John Irving, Chair of the State Opera South Australia Board said that it was a pleasure to welcome Mark to the Company following an international search led by AEGEUS.
“Mark brings a wealth of experience and passion to the role. His appointment is an exciting one for us and for the arts industry here in South Australia,” Irving said.
Stuart Maunder AM, Artistic Director agreed.
“I’m delighted to be able to initiate a new chapter for State Opera with Mark, and look forward to working with him to forge a strong future for opera in this state,” Maunder said.
Mr Taylor said that he was delighted to join the rich arts community in South Australia and to build on the on the strong foundation at State Opera.
“From the glorious Her Majesy’s Theatre to the wild natural beauty, I’m thrilled to explore how opera can continue to contribute to the cultural fabric of South Australia,” he said.
Mr Taylor will take up the position at State Opera for an initial three-year term, leaving his role as the Director of Learning, Regional and Community at Opera Queensland – a company he served for 12 years.
During his tenure at Opera Queensland, he established dynamic and innovative partnerships that delivered meaningful outcomes to the regions and leaves Opera Queensland in robust shape. He was responsible for growing the company’s regional identity and oversaw a wide range of learning and community engagement opportunities. These include: the development of five touring school shows; and the implementation of the community chorus model across regional tours, including Are You Lonesome Tonight – the largest in the company’s history with 32 performance locations across Queensland attended by more than 11,000 people. Most recently, Taylor was instrumental in the development of the inaugural Festival of Outback Opera in 2021 and its second iteration in 2022, bringing significant tourism opportunities to regional Queensland communities.
“It has been an honour to take opera across such a decentralised state, in a way that not only allows audiences to experience this 450-year-old art form, but actively participate and find their voice,” Taylor says.
Mark Taylor takes over from Yarmila Alfonzetti, following her recent departure for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
He will start this new role on 26 September 2022, and will lead the recruitment for a new Artistic Director, in line with the recent news of current Artistic Director Stuart Maunder’s departure in late 2023.
