MN Opera Welcomes Mitra Sadeghpour
MN Opera is thrilled to announce that Mitra Sadeghpour will join our staff this season as our new Education Director. Dr Sadgehpour is a distinguished opera educator and soprano who joins us after five years as Associate Professor of Opera at the University of Northern Iowa School of Music. At UNI, Dr. Sadeghpour directed the opera program, which included productions, Opera Performance I and II, and Advanced Vocal Performance.She also taught applied voice and collaborated with the Theatre Department on various musical theatre productions. She directed full productions of Riders to the Sea, L’Enfant et les Sortileges, Signor Deluso, Hansel and Gretel, Susannah and Merry Wives of Windsor, as well as numerous scene programs and two Opera Showcases. She also led opera students on a tour of Costa Rica. Previously, she taught for 12 years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where she was honored as a Max Schoenfeld Distinguished Professor.
As a performer, Dr. Sadeghpour regularly performs in recital and concert. She served from 2012-2016 as the NATS National Vice President of Outreach, and joined the board of directors of the National Opera Association in 2017 where she has been tasked to expand student initiatives. She has taught at Harrower Opera Workshop at Georgia State University, at La Musica Lirica, and InterHarmony Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italia. Recently, Dr. Sadeghpour directed Carmen with Opera Louisiane. Upcoming directing includes acting styles with UW-Milwaukee’s “Leaders of Versatile Voice Education” and presentations at the National Opera Association and OPERA America conferences.
Dr. Sadeghpour was selected as one of three participants in OPERA America’s inaugural Mentorship Program for Women, and she was paired in 2018 with Stacy Brightman, Vice President for Education and Community Engagement at LA Opera. Her special interests are American opera, art song, popular song, and musical theatre, traveling, and dogs. A native of Martelle, Iowa, she also has degrees from Luther College and Indiana University- Bloomington.
At MN Opera, Dr Sadeghpour will serve as Music Director of Project Opera, our youth training program for talented young singers. She will also direct our summer camp program and our children’s chorus for mainstage shows, and she will be involved in Music Out Loud, our long term, after-school music curriculum.
Dr. Sadeghpour brings with her a wealth of experience and passion that we know will engage young artists across Minnesota and we couldn’t be more excited! Welcome to MN Opera, Mitra!