EarRelevant Staff | 2 JUL 2025
WEXFORD, Ireland— Wexford Festival Opera has appointed Suzanne Nance as its next executive director, the organization announced Wednesday. Nance will assume the role on January 1, 2026, following the departure of interim executive director Loughlin Deegan at the end of this year.
Nance joins the Irish opera company after eight years as president and CEO of All Classical Radio, a nonprofit media arts organization based in Portland, Oregon. Under her leadership, the station saw record audience growth and a significant expansion of its global digital presence.
An award-winning broadcaster and arts administrator, Nance recently led a successful capital campaign to fund a new media arts center and performance hall in Portland, which opened in 2024. She also spearheaded the creation of the International Children’s Arts Network in 2019, a platform dedicated to arts and educational programming for young audiences.
Her broadcasting work includes the Emmy Award-winning television series MaineArts!, as well as hosting roles with RTÉ Lyric FM and Lyric Opera of Chicago’s internationally syndicated radio broadcasts.
Nance holds a master’s degree in opera performance from DePaul University in Chicago, as well as executive leadership credentials from Harvard University and the University of Oxford.
“I am deeply honored to join Wexford Festival Opera as executive director, especially as we prepare to celebrate 75 extraordinary years of artistic excellence in 2026,” Nance said in a statement. “There is a distinct and enduring magic to Wexford—rooted in the warmth of its people and their profound commitment to the arts.”
Paul Cleary, chair of the Wexford Festival Opera board, described Nance as “a dynamic and visionary leader whose deep passion for opera and proven track record in arts leadership make her the ideal choice to guide the company into its next chapter.”
Founded in 1951, Wexford Festival Opera has grown into an internationally recognized event known for staging rarely performed operas. The company’s 74th season runs from October 17 to November 1 and will feature Verdi’s Le Trouvère, Handel’s Deidamia, and Delius’s The Magic Fountain. More information is available at www.wexfordopera.com. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Wexford Festival Opera: wexfordopera.com
Read more by EarRelevant Staff.
.png){kind=logo}