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Gabriel Preisser

general director & CEO
GPreisser@OperaOrlando.org

As general director of Opera Orlando, Grammy award-winning baritone Gabriel Preisser uses his performance experience in over fifty operatic and musical theater roles to serve the company in areas of growth and development, artistic vision and planning, and administration. Born and raised in Apopka, Mr. Preisser has deep ties to the Central Florida area. He graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University with a major in vocal performance and a minor in business and completed a master’s degree in voice at the University of Houston.

Critically acclaimed by The New York Times and Opera News, Mr. Preisser has performed leading-man roles for various companies throughout the U.S., including Minnesota Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, and Opera Tampa. Most notably, he created the role of Lt. Gordon in Kevin Puts’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night at Minnesota Opera, with subsequent performances at Opera Philadelphia and Cincinnati Opera, as well as the national PBS broadcast of the work. 

On the concert stage he has garnered a reputation for his dynamic interpretations of Orff’s Carmina Burana and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast with the Canterbury Chorale, Atlanta Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and Jacksonville Symphony. He is a frequent recitalist throughout the U.S. and a proponent of American composers Charles Ives, Carlisle Floyd, Aaron Copland, and John Duke.

Mr. Preisser currently lives in Winter Garden with his wife, son, and daughter.

 
 
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Grant Preisser

Grant Preisser serves as artistic director for Opera Orlando, having served previously as creative director for three seasons. Besides supervising production and marketing efforts for the company, Mr. Preisser has provided scenic design for The Daughter of the Regiment, Rigoletto, and world premiere of the The Secret River, and he also directed and designed the Florida premiere of All is Calm, The Magic Flute, and La Traviata. In addition to his position with Opera Orlando, Mr. Preisser enjoys a diverse career of directing and designing across the country, working with UrbanArias, Opera in the Heights, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. Mr. Preisser has also served as guest faculty and opera director at the University of Michigan.  

 
 
 
 
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Russell P. Allen

senior development director
Russell@OperaOrlando.org

Russell P. Allen began his work as development director for Opera Orlando in October, 2020. He has worked in opera for over 20 years, including nine years as president and CEO of Virginia Opera. His career in arts management spans 45 years. Mr. Allen was a double major in English and music at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. He has served as an independent arts consultant in both fundraising and administrative development and has been active on grant review panels for cities in which he’s lived, for state arts commissions, and for the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Sarah Purser

education director
SPurser@OperaOrlando.org

Sarah Purser serves as Opera Orlando’s education director. As a teacher herself, her passion for music education serves her well in this role. She has also been seen on Opera Orlando’s MainStage series as Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and Tisbe in Cinderella. She is a founding member of the women’s vocal ensemble “The Helena Collective,” which was featured in Opera Orlando’s original, award-winning production 6/VIII: The Six Wives of Henry VIII. She has been a featured soloist with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Space Coast Symphony, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, and the Messiah Choral Society. 

 
 
 

Emily DeNardo

company manager
Emily@OperaOrlando.org

Emily DeNardo has recently joined Opera Orlando as company manager. She has previously served as assistant stage manager for The Tales of Hoffman and production stage manager for Hansel & Gretel (2018). In addition to Opera Orlando, Ms. DeNardo has stage managed for The Weston Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theater, and Tectonic Theater Project. Ms. DeNardo holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. As company manager, she serves primarily to maintain and execute the day-to-day operations of the company and to carry out the execution of each season’s productions in support of the mission and artistic vision of the organization. She serves as artistic liaison for all artists and production team members.

 
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Evan Couch

patron services manager
Evan@OperaOrlando.org

Evan Couch is a native of San Antonio, Texas. He studied at Oklahoma City University, where he spent his undergraduate years training as a tenor with Dr. Kelly Holst and Prof. Eric Frei. While in school, Mr. Couch performed in the Mainstage production of Cinderella in 2019 and the Oklahoma Premiere of The Zombies of Penzance in 2020, and he was featured as “David” in Hawaii Performing Arts Festival's summer production of Company. Evan graduated from OCU in May 2021 with a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance, plus a certification in nonprofit leadership.

 

Tiffany Meadows-Green

production stage manager
Tiffany@OperaOrlando.org

Tiffany Lyn Meadows is excited to return for her second season with Opera Orlando. Since 2011, her work has been seen throughout the Orlando area at several venues and companies, including: Orlando Repertory Theatre, The Garden Theatre, and Theatre at St. Luke’s. Tiffany received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from the University of Central Florida. Tiffany also serves as the Production Manager at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Windermere, where she supports the work of the tech, theatre, worship, and music teams.

 

Cait Durrance

costume shop manager
Cait@OperaOrlando.org

Glorivy Arroyo

development manager
Glorivy@OperaOrlando.org

Glorivy Arroyo is an accomplished mezzo-soprano with more than 20 years of experience as a leader in arts administration, language and music education, and as a performing artist on opera stages around the world. She returns to her hometown of Orlando after leading all philanthropic and engagement efforts at Odyssey Opera of Boston, where she remains as an arts consultant on special projects, including the award-winning five-year Black opera initiative, As Told By: History, Race and Justice on the Opera Stage. Ms. Arroyo holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University, a Master of Music from New England Conservatory of Music, and a Certificate of Professional Fundraising from Boston University. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is a CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) candidate.

 
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Carol Stuckey

financial controller
CStuckey@OperaOrlando.org

Carol Stuckey serves as Opera Orlando’s financial controller. Mrs. Stuckey is a CPA with over thirty years of experience in all areas of accounting, including non-profit. Much of her career has been as a CFO/controller consultant for small businesses, helping to increase profitability, set up and restructure accounting systems, transition and train top accounting personnel, and prepare for financial audits. For the last four years Mrs. Stuckey has been a key adviser to the Opera Orlando board of directors and the Company’s general director.

 

Sarai Goley

assistant production manager
Sarai@OperaOrlando.org

Sarai Goley has taught and directed theater in Lake and Orange County schools for 13 years and is very excited to join the Opera Orlando Company. Sarai hails from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre Studies with a double minor in Cinema Studies and Mass Communications and a Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Education from the University of Houston. She has worked in theatre for 25 years including the US Fringe Circuit, Orlando Shakes, and remains a proud educator of the future artists of Orlando.

 

Tyler Bargfrede

shop foreman
BargfredeTy@OperaOrlando.org

Amy Thompson

editor-at-large
Amy@OperaOrlando.org