Calgary Herald

OPERA CEO TO STEP DOWN

Bob McPhee led Calgary arts group to great heights

- ERIC VOLMERS

Bob McPhee will be retiring from Calgary Opera after 19 years as general director and CEO, the organizati­on's board of directors announced on Saturday morning.

McPhee will stay on as an advisory role during the transition period as a search is conducted for a replacemen­t. His retirement is effective March 3.

A news release sent to Postmedia said that McPhee was facing some health challenges, but did not go into further details. It also said he has had an “eye on retirement” for two years.

“The greatest gift that Bob ever brought to us was Bob himself,” said Michael Brown, board chair of Calgary Opera.

“He made us all stronger. He made the board better, he made the staff better. He is a once-in-alifetime leader who has the ability to balance out the arts side as well as the business side. I've never worked with anybody like Bob and I don't expect to work with anybody like Bob again.”

After stints with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Edmonton Symphony and Calgary Philharmon­ic Orchestra, McPhee joined Calgary Opera in 1998 and the company quickly emerged as a bold leader in developing new operas. In the past 19 years, the Calgary Opera has presented eight new works un- der McPhee's leadership, including the Alberta-set Filumena in 2003 and Frobisher in 2007.

During his tenure, he also launched the Emerging Artists Program and Opera in the Village, Canada's only outdoor opera festival.

In 2016, McPhee announced a partnershi­p with the Calgary Stampede that will see Calgary Opera move to the Stampede's youth campus within the next five years. The plan includes the building of a new 50,000 square-foot Opera Centre. In 2015, Opera Awards Canada awarded McPhee with a Lifetime Achievemen­t Award.

“The typical scenario (for opera companies) is that you bring in shows and you remount them,” Brown says. “I think what made Bob unique and the Calgary Opera unique is that we're as much about producing and creating as what takes place on stage. There's some risk to that, but also some great rewards and we've seen that in our community.”

McPhee began his career as a baritone performing in opera, radio, television and theatre after graduating from the University of Manitoba.

While a search for McPhee's replacemen­t is conducted, operations will be run by Taras Kulish, director of artistic operations, and Lauren Martin, director of finance and administra­tion. Brown says he hopes a replacemen­t will be found within four to six months.

“Obviously we have big shoes to fill,” he said.

“Our first focus is to stop and really spend some time thinking about what we are actually looking for in terms of an individual for this position. Part of that will be speaking to the audience, speaking to the community and having really robust discussion­s with the board. Then we'll go through the search process.”

McPhee was not available for comment, but in a statement released by Calgary Opera, he said:

"I have spent a fantastic 19 years at Calgary Opera, and nearly 40 years in the arts community, but now look forward to stepping into an advisory role. I have been very lucky to be surrounded by a strong team of individual­s and Board who are poised to continue the commitment to excellence that Calgary Opera brings to the community. Our patrons will know I have always referred to it as YOUR Calgary Opera. And it truly is yours to treasure and take care of. I am happy to be able to provide mentorship as Calgary Opera continues to move boldly forward as a premier national arts organizati­on.”

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 ?? HERALD FILES ?? Bob McPhee developed a reputation as a bold leader in his 19 years at Calgary Opera, initiating many new ventures such as the Emerging Artists Program and earning a Lifetime Achievemen­t Award.
HERALD FILES Bob McPhee developed a reputation as a bold leader in his 19 years at Calgary Opera, initiating many new ventures such as the Emerging Artists Program and earning a Lifetime Achievemen­t Award.

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