PR - General Director Eric Einhorn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MAY 4, 2026

Media Contact:
Diane Shomper
Development Manager/Board Liaison, OperaDelaware
dshomper@operade.org

(302) 442-7807 

          WILMINGTON, Del., May 4, 2026  — OperaDelaware today announced the appointment of Eric Einhorn as its next General Director, effective August 1, 2026. A nationally recognized creative leader, director, and arts administrator, Einhorn will serve as the company’s chief executive and artistic leader, guiding OperaDelaware into its next chapter of artistic innovation and community engagement.

Einhorn’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment as OperaDelaware continues to build on its legacy as one of the nation’s oldest professional opera companies by advancing a bold strategic mission to “produce vibrant and creative performances that empower artists, enrich the community, entertain audiences, and encourage curiosity.” His leadership will play a central role in realizing the company’s mission while advancing a set of ambitious goals designed to redefine how opera is funded, experienced, and sustained.

A proven innovator and builder, Einhorn brings more than 20 years of experience across artistic leadership, production, and nonprofit management. As the co-founder and General & Artistic Director of On Site Opera, he created the nation’s first site-specific opera company, growing it from a startup into a critically acclaimed organization with national and international reach. His work has consistently expanded access to opera by meeting audiences where they are—an approach that closely aligns with OperaDelaware’s commitment to community engagement.

In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Einhorn has an extensive artistic résumé, including work with The Metropolitan Opera and companies across the country. His career reflects a deep commitment to storytelling, collaboration, and innovation—values that closely align with OperaDelaware’s identity.

OperaDelaware’s Board of Directors and search committee were particularly drawn to Einhorn’s ability to integrate artistic vision with strong financial stewardship, operational leadership, and fundraising acumen. His experience managing complex organizations, cultivating donors and partners, and building sustainable business models positions him to advance the company’s strategic priorities, including strengthening financial stability, expanding earned and contributed revenue, and deepening community relationships.

“Eric Einhorn brings a rare combination of artistic leadership and executive skill, grounded in smart strategy and disciplined stewardship,” said Christina MacMillan, Board President. “We’re excited to welcome him as he guides OperaDelaware’s next chapter.”

Among Einhorn’s initial priorities will be the continued evolution of OperaDelaware’s innovative Company Artist model—an approach that reimagines how artists are supported by providing full-time employment opportunities that integrate performance, administrative work, and community engagement. Einhorn’s track record of building artist-centered organizations, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and developing new performance formats uniquely positions him to lead the next phase of this model. Under his leadership, OperaDelaware aims to further expand wrap-around support for artists, strengthen professional development pathways, and create sustainable systems that benefit both artists and the organization.

Outgoing General Director, Brendan Cooke, said: “Fourteen years ago, this community took a chance on me. I have spent every day since trying to be worthy of that trust. I am leaving with confidence that the best for OperaDelaware is still ahead. Handing the baton to Eric Einhorn feels less like an ending to me, and more like an acceleration of the momentum we have built together. He is a remarkable talent and a genuine leader, and I am asking everyone who has ever believed in OperaDelaware to show him the same warmth and support that carried me through. As for what comes next—it was the opera part of OperaDelaware that brought me here, but it is the Delaware part that has my heart. After a lifetime in the arts, I am looking forward to finding new ways to serve the community that has given me so much.”

The company’s strategic plan also emphasizes deepening community engagement and broadening access to opera through meaningful partnerships and diverse programming. Einhorn’s experience creating performances in nontraditional venues and collaborating with a wide range of cultural and civic institutions aligns directly with these goals, positioning OperaDelaware to strengthen its role as a vital cultural resource in the region.

Einhorn noted: “I am humbled and honored to be selected to lead OperaDelaware into its next chapter. I look forward to working with the staff, board, and patrons to explore the full potential of the company. Expanding repertoire, deepening community engagement, and strengthening the Company Artist model are all central to my vision of building something hyper-local and uniquely Delaware. During his tenure, Brendan elevated the work of this remarkable company, and I am eager to build on that foundation while exploring all of the ways that opera can serve and connect with the community.”

As General Director, Einhorn will oversee all artistic, administrative, and operational functions of OperaDelaware. He will work closely with the Board, staff, artists, and community partners to advance a cohesive artistic vision, ensure financial sustainability, and continue building an organization that is both artistically excellent and deeply connected to its community.

About OperaDelaware

OperaDelaware is one of the oldest professional opera companies in the United States and a leading cultural institution in the Mid-Atlantic region. The company produces bold, vibrant, and creative performances that empower artists, enrich the community, entertain audiences, and encourage curiosity. Through innovative programming and its pioneering Company Artist model, OperaDelaware is redefining how opera is created, experienced, and sustained.

OperaDelaware is proud to host this year’s OPERA America conference, the smallest company by budget size ever to do so, welcoming leaders from across the field to Wilmington from May 12-15, 2026, and further underscoring its role as a national leader in shaping the future of opera.

About Eric Einhorn

Eric Einhorn has directed productions at many of the country’s leading opera houses, including The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera Chicago, Pittsburgh Opera, the Glimmerglass Festival, Wolf Trap Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, Florentine Opera, Austin Opera, and Utah Opera. He served on the staging staff of The Metropolitan Opera from 2005-2020. While on the staff, he collaborated on over forty productions ranging from standard repertoire to world premieres.

From 2012-2023, Eric was the co-founding General & Artistic Director of On Site Opera, the country’s only opera company dedicated to site-specific productions. His immersive, site specific productions performed to critical acclaim in venues and institutions throughout New York City and beyond that ranged from community gardens, historic homes, restaurants, the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and Australia's Yarra Valley Opera Festival.

He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Opera Directing & Voice Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

MEDIA RELATIONS

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