DT | Women in Arts Leadership

Join us for a Question and Answer presentation with Deborah Sandler that will provide an introduction to the issue of representation of women the performing and visual arts leadership. Do these fields differ from for profit companies and board with respect to gender parity? Do women in these fields hit a glass ceiling?

How does Kansas City fare as compared to national stats?

Deborah Sandler became General Director of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in 2012. She is known throughout the opera industry for her strong commitment to artistic excellence, company growth and deepening community connections. Lyric Opera of Kansas City is the third company for which she has served as General Director.

Previously, Ms. Sandler served as General Director of Kentucky Opera where her expertise as both the artistic and management leader of the company gained acclaim for productions of high artistic quality. Deborah Sandler began her career as General Manager of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and later moved to the Opera Theatre of New Jersey as General Director, managing both the artistic and administrative functions.

In service to the future of opera and the American Opera service organization OPERA America, Ms. Sandler?s passion for opening doors to expand the role of women in professional opera was the impetus for the first ever field wide conversation on this topic, which took place this past May in Washington, DC. She has been a leader and catalyst regarding the convening of women to advance this cause and now chairs a new initiative, Womens Opera Network , a national forum which she chairs.

Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Ms. Sandler is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in music; Ms. Sandler earned a Master of Arts degree in musicology from New York University, completing all of her doctoral course work. She has also studied at the Mandel Center for Nonprofits at Case Western Reserve and at the Fundraising School at Indiana University.