SPAC revamps classical arts, education staff
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Opera Saratoga director Lawrence Edelson is taking on the added position of Saratoga Performing Arts Center creative producer of classical and dance.
Edelson will continue with the opera and American Lyric Theater, which he founded in 2005 to nurture the creation of new operatic repertoire.
He also had been SPAC’s interim adviser.
Edelson’s new position is one of several moves SPAC announced Friday as part of an effort to expand the scope of its education and program offerings.
Christopher Shiley will join the center’s staff on Feb. 5 as senior director of artistic planning, bringing extensive experience in the classical music business.
In addition, Dennis Moench will lead SPAC’s education initiatives in his appointment to the newly expanded role of senior director of education. Previously, he was director of youth education.
“SPAC made tremendous strides in increasing its education initiatives and programming offerings in 2017 and I am excited to build upon our suc-
cess with the addition of these key roles,” said Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC president and CEO.
Edelson, Opera Saratoga’s general and artistic director, is charged with increasing the commissioning and creation of new works for SPAC. Last summer, for the opera, he oversaw production and world premiere recording of Blitzstein’s “The Cradle Will Rock,” in its original orchestration for the first time since 1960.
“Lawrence has provided SPAC with invaluable insights,” Sobol said. “He is a singular kind of arts-entrepreneur, with a tremendous creative instinct and deep understanding of artistic programming.”
Shiley takes over from former Director of Artistic Administration Sharon Walsh, who retired in October.
He was most recently festival director of classical movements, managing the daily operations for Classical Movements’ Prague Summer Nights Young Artist Music Festival, a 30day summer music festival held annually throughout Europe.
Prior to that position, he was director of operations for the Yellow Barn Music Festival, and operations coordinator for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Orch-Kids program. A classically trained trumpeter, and current principal trumpet of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Shiley’s performing career has spanned more than a decade.
Moench will be responsible for expanding and deepening SPAC’s programming and education initiatives, and implementing new programs such as the in-school Artist-In-Residency, The Performance Project summer dance program, Summer Nights at SPAC, Story Time Concerts for young audiences and the Philadelphia Orchestra Play-IN, held with special guest Yo-Yo Ma in 2017.
In his former position, as director of youth education, Moench enhanced an existing Classical Kids program, CDPHP Family Nights and the Young Artist Gazebo Series.
Before joining SPAC, he had a 12-year career as a New York City-based AEA Actor, performing in numerous Broadway, off-Broadway and National Touring productions, including a four-year run as a principal actor in the Broadway production of “Mary Poppins” and the 2014 Broadway revival of “Les Misérables.”