The Association for Opera in Canada (AOC) is pleased to announce the two Canadian participants selected to attend the OPERA America Leadership Intensive, taking place August 24–29: Dorian Cox, Director of the Ensemble Studio at the Canadian Opera Company, and Renée Fajardo, Education Manager at Gateway Theatre and Artistic Producer of Sound the Alarm.
The Leadership Intensive is a week-long program of seminars and networking opportunities hosted at the Doris Duke Foundation in New York City. The program offers an active learning environment in which participants address strategic issues facing the field, develop essential leadership skills, and build professional connections that support the future of opera.
Each year, the Association for Opera in Canada selects and sponsors two Canadian participants to attend the OPERA America Leadership Intensive. Dorian Cox and Renée Fajardo were selected by an independent jury from a competitive pool of 11 applicants.
They will join an international cohort of 18 participants, including 14 from the United States, two from Europe, and two from Latin America. The program will take place August 24–29, 2026, at the Doris Duke Foundation in New York City.