Annie Burridge

Annie Burridge was named General Director & CEO of Austin Opera in October 2016. During her tenure the company has launched several groundbreaking artistic initiatives, including the creation of the Butler Fund for Spanish Programming and the Austin Opera Residency for Latinx Creatives; the development of new, cost-effective co-production models that have helped bring large-scale operatic productions to cities throughout North America; and the company’s first world premiere commission, Ofrenda. Austin Opera has also seen significant revenue growth during Annie’s leadership, winning five competitive national innovation grants and achieving a 400% increase in the Austin Opera Endowment. Her ten year anniversary with Austin Opera will coincide with the opening of the Butler Performance Center, a new performing arts center that will house Austin Opera’s administrative offices, costume shop, conference center, multiple rehearsal facilities, and a 200-seat theater that will not only significantly expand the scope of the company’s programming, but also help remedy the significant need for cultural performing space in Austin.

Annie joined Austin Opera following a nine-year tenure at Opera Philadelphia, where she most recently served as Managing Director. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.M. in Voice Performance and a M.M. in Opera Studies from the New England Conservatory. She graduated the valedictorian of the College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State University, where she earned a B.M. in Voice Performance with a Minor in Business Administration.  Annie is an alumnus of Wharton’s Women’s Executive Leadership program and OPERA America’s Leadership Intensive program, and served as a Nonprofit Leadership Fellow at the Aspen Institute.