Charles MacKay (US arts administrator)
Encyclopedia
Charles MacKay is an American arts administrator, currently the General Director of The Santa Fe Opera
in New Mexico
. He is the son of John and Margaret MacKay and a graduate of Santa Fe High School
and of the University of Minnesota
.
, from 1978 to 1984. For 5 years, he was the manager for the American artists at the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto
, Italy
.
However, in 1984, MacKay became executive director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
(OTSL), recruited to the post by OTSL's first general director Richard Gaddes
. In 1985, MacKay was named OTSL's second general director, after Gaddes stood down from the post. During his tenure, MacKay presided over the growth of OTSL's endowment from USD $682,000 to $18 million, and maintained the company's record of never posting a deficit. He also raised funds for the construction of the Sally S. Levy Opera Center, the company's first permanent administrative facility, which was completed in 2006.
While he had some involvement in the planning of the 2009 festival season, the 2010 season is based on MacKay's programming and contains nods of appreciation and dedication to John Crosby
, SFO's founding director (by opening his season with Madame Butterfly, Crosby's 1957 opening night and the opening night of new 1968 theatre after the 1967 fire) and to Richard Gaddes (by including a Benjamin Britten
opera, Albert Herring
in the line-up).
since 2004, and concluded his tenure in that post in June 2008.
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He is the son of John and Margaret MacKay and a graduate of Santa Fe High School
Santa Fe High School (New Mexico)
Santa Fe High School, founded in 1889, is a public high school in the Santa Fe Public Schools. It is located about two miles southwest of downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico and is the largest school in Santa Fe, public or private, with an enrollment of 1,542...
and of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
.
Early experience at The Santa Fe Opera
As a youth, he played the French horn, and played in the orchestra of Santa Fe Opera (SFO) at age 17. He was a volunteer with Santa Fe Opera at age 15, and began to work in administrative capacities with SFO at age 18. He worked at SFO as an orchestra librarian, in the business office and painting stage scenery. Subsequently with SFO, MacKay also held several administrative positions, including box office manager, assistant orchestra manager and business manager, the last position for 4 years.Involvement with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
After leaving Santa Fe, his other administrative positions include a 6-year tenure as director of finance and administration for the Spoleto Festival USASpoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the world's major performing arts festivals. It was founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who sought to establish a counterpart to the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy...
, from 1978 to 1984. For 5 years, he was the manager for the American artists at the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto
Spoleto
Spoleto is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is S. of Trevi, N. of Terni, SE of Perugia; SE of Florence; and N of Rome.-History:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
However, in 1984, MacKay became executive director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is a summer opera festival held in St. Louis, Missouri. Typically four operas, all sung in English, are presented each season, which runs from late May to late June. Performances are accompanied by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, which is divided into two...
(OTSL), recruited to the post by OTSL's first general director Richard Gaddes
Richard Gaddes
Richard Gaddes is an English-born opera company administrator based in the United States.-Career in England:Gaddes was born in Wallsend, England. He studied at Trinity College of Music in London. At Wigmore Hall, London’s famed recital hall, he created a series of lunchtime concerts designed to...
. In 1985, MacKay was named OTSL's second general director, after Gaddes stood down from the post. During his tenure, MacKay presided over the growth of OTSL's endowment from USD $682,000 to $18 million, and maintained the company's record of never posting a deficit. He also raised funds for the construction of the Sally S. Levy Opera Center, the company's first permanent administrative facility, which was completed in 2006.
Appoinment to The Santa Fe Opera
In November 2007, SFO named MacKay its third general director to succeed Richard Gaddes. He concluded his OTSL tenure on 30 September 2008, and began his tenure as SFO general director on 1 October 2008.While he had some involvement in the planning of the 2009 festival season, the 2010 season is based on MacKay's programming and contains nods of appreciation and dedication to John Crosby
John Crosby (conductor)
John O’Hea Crosby was an American musician, conductor and arts administrator...
, SFO's founding director (by opening his season with Madame Butterfly, Crosby's 1957 opening night and the opening night of new 1968 theatre after the 1967 fire) and to Richard Gaddes (by including a Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
opera, Albert Herring
Albert Herring
Albert Herring, Op. 39, is a chamber opera in three acts by Benjamin Britten.Composed in the winter of 1946 and the spring of 1947, this comic opera was a successor to his serious opera The Rape of Lucretia...
in the line-up).
Other achievements
MacKay is a 1997 recipient of the Arts Management Career Service Award. He has served as chairman of the board of Opera AmericaOpera America
Opera America, officially OPERA America, is a service organization in North America promoting the creation, presentation, and enjoyment of opera...
since 2004, and concluded his tenure in that post in June 2008.