“It’s nearing the end of the work week at POP, and the closing of one of the biggest weeks in our history. The week began with the final two days of auditions for the 2020 Season. All told we heard over 400 singers. Since Sunday we’ve been working on casting decisions and offers will be going out soon. Get ready for some great singing this season! On Tuesday night we celebrated the kick-off for our 10th Anniversary season with POPagnaza 2019. “Special” hardly begins to describe the atmosphere and results of that night. If you weren’t there — we’re sorry!
But the biggest event of the week? This week POP took a huge step forward with the hiring of our first Executive Director, Matt Cook!
Matt most recently held positions in development and production with Wild Up New Music ensemble. There, he was responsible for overseeing operations for all events and fundraising activities. Matt produced performances on the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Fluxus Festival, the Ecstatic Music Festival in New York City, and lead partnerships with organizations such as the Martha Graham Dance Company. Previously, Matt worked with the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet in various roles as Managing Director, Project Manager, and Marketing Manager, leading the organization to international recognition in their field.
Matt is also a Grammy Award-winning performer. His work is heard on studio and film recordings and is seen live in performance with ensembles across the world. As an educator, Matt has been a featured clinician at several universities including Stanford and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music and maintained faculty positions at many local institutions. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Matt holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the California Institute of the Arts.
Of his new position, Cook says, “I’m thrilled to join Josh Shaw’s vision of creating affordable and entertaining Opera. Serving the entire Los Angeles community has been a dream of mine for many years and Pacific Opera Project is light years ahead of their peers in the effort to cultivate new audiences in the Facebook age. I couldn’t be more excited to join the team and meet so many new opera fans.”
Welcome to the team Matt.”
Click here to learn more about Pacific Opera Project.