Barbara Lynne Jamison became the sixth General Director in Kentucky Opera’s history in August 2018. Prior to her appointment as Kentucky Opera’s chief executive and artistic officer, she served as Director of Programs and Partnerships at Seattle Opera and Director of Programs at the Metropolitan Opera Guild (NYC). A builder by nature, she has sparked multiple new initiatives, including new opera commissions, innovative opera programming, creative placemaking projects, and productions for all ages — providing meaningful experiences for people not traditionally served by opera. In her four years with Kentucky Opera, she has moved operations into a newly renovated Opera Center, increased diversity on stage and in the audience, and introduced new programming and a unique approach to producing mainstage opera that centers the voices of the community through deep partnerships and participation. Such projects have successfully demonstrated the power of opera as a vehicle for seeking and inspiring beauty, truth, and reconciliation in a community.

Her degrees include a BMus in vocal performance form Florida International University, MMus in vocal performance from Manhattan School of Music, and additional doctoral work as Dean’s Scholar at Boston University. Prior to her administrative career, Jamison was an accomplished professional soprano and conductor.