September 9th

       Ash Lawn Opera Announces    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

After 23 years at the helm of the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, Judy Walker, its General Director, announced her retirement effective as of December 31, 2009.

Judy has led this opera company from the first small productions in the Boxwood Gardens at Ash Lawn Highlands to more and more sophisticated and elaborate productions, culminating this past summer in beautiful performances of “Camelot” and “The Marriage of Figaro” at the Paramount Theater.  Although some patrons missed the ambiance of opera and Broadway musicals performed under the stars, often against a backdrop of chirping cicadas and screeching peacocks, the professional and polished productions at the Paramount revealed the true quality of the performers.

During her many years of leadership, Judy has always emphasized the importance of the Ash Lawn Opera Festival as a training ground for young professional singers on their way to becoming regulars at the Met, the Chicago Lyric Opera, the Miami Opera Company and many other major opera companies throughout the country.  Opportunities have been provided for the young singers to assume leading roles, and the training and experience have caused many of them to return year after year for summer productions.

Under her leadership the Festival also provided educational programs for music teachers and students in the local schools as well as productions for the entertainment of the children, such as Britten's “ Noye's Fludde” (Noah's Flood), in the fall of 2008, involving 100 local school children as well as professional singers and musicians.

From selection of the artists and musicians to critical decisions regarding productions, Judy Walker led both the artistic as well as the development and management of the Festival. “Judy is a special person who managed to overcome every obstacle in order to create wonderful musical experiences for thousands of people.  Without her, there would not be an Ash Lawn Opera Festival,” stated Frank Buck , President of the Board.

The Festival's Board of Directors is initiating a national search for her successor.  The goal is to build on the widespread reputation, established by Judy Walker, of the Ash Lawn Opera Festival as one of the country's best summer festivals.