The new General Director and CEO of The Dallas Opera has a strong background in opera administration, having served the company in several senior artistic roles for more than ten years. He is known for his strategic vision, international artistic credibility, and exceptional ability to connect with artists, patrons, audiences, and community leaders.
A new era begins at The Dallas Opera on June 1 as David Lomelí begins his tenure as the company’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO.
“David Lomelí is the rare leader who understands that great opera companies must honor tradition while fearlessly building for the future. He brings international artistic credibility, strategic vision, and an extraordinary ability to connect with artists, patrons, audiences, and community leaders alike,” said The Dallas Opera’s Board Chair Quincy Roberts. This new role is something of a homecoming for Lomelí. For more than ten years, he served the company in several senior artistic roles.
When he was named the Director of Artistic Administration at The Dallas Opera in 2018, he was the first Latino in US history to occupy a top artistic position at a Level 1 opera company. He is the founding director of the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, which received the International Opera Awards' Equal Opportunities & Impact Award in 2025.
During the pandemic, he created the TDO Network, which generated more than 300 million views on its social media handles for The Dallas Opera from March 2020 to April 2021.
“My work at The Dallas Opera during the pandemic, including developing the Hart Institute and launching the TDO Network, reinforced the importance of innovation, community, and adaptability in the arts. Those experiences deepened my commitment to making opera more accessible and relevant to diverse audiences, and I’m eager to build on that foundation as General Director.
My vision is to honor TDO’s rich legacy while fostering new connections – with artists, audiences, and the city – that will ensure our company thrives for years to come,” Lomelí said. In 2019, Lomelí became the Casting Director and Head of International Partnerships and Strategy at Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich and in 2021, he joined Santa Fe Opera as Chief Artistic Officer and Chief Artistic Advisor.
Additionally, he has continued to serve as Artistic Consultant at The Dallas Opera since 2021. Lomelí has managed budgets ranging from $15 million, developed international co- production partnerships that generated new revenue streams, and cultivated relationships with global corporate and cultural partners. He is a founding member of OPERA America's Diversity Initiative and a frequent speaker on artistic leadership and talent development. Ian Derrer has been the The Dallas Opera's Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO since 2018.
His last day at The Dallas Opera is June 30. The search committee consisted of eight members including TDO board and artistic leadership and partnered with Arts Consulting Group to lead the search process and assist with international candidate outreach and evaluation.
“Throughout this search, David distinguished himself not only through his vision for the future of opera, but through his authenticity, collaborative leadership style, and deep understanding of The Dallas Opera’s artistic mission and community impact. We are confident that he is uniquely prepared to lead this company into an exciting new era of growth and international prominence,” Roberts said. Lomelí’s tenure will overlap with Ian Derrer’s tenure for one month.
Derrer, who has served in the role for eight years, will officially depart June 30 to take on the role of General Director of the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto.
“I am honored, and especially grateful to partner with a thoughtful and sensitive Board that understands both the immense challenges and extraordinary possibilities facing our art form today,” Lomelí said . “I look forward to listening, learning, and building together with our magnificent orchestra, chorus, artists, and deeply passionate staff, whose dedication and spirit are the heartbeat of this company.
My goal is to serve this institution, this city, and this art form with humility, ambition, and a profound sense of responsibility as we shape the next chapter of The Dallas Opera together. ”
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