Meet the General Director
Michael Harrison became General Director of the Baltimore Opera Company in 1988, following a career as singer, dancer and actor, and as administrator and fundraiser.
He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in drama, followed by graduate study as a directing major at Yale Drama School. Further studies in voice, acting and dance followed, and he appeared in numerous Broadway, national and regional productions, performing both musical and dramatic roles. He sang over one thousand performances of Tony in West Side Story, including the South African premiere, as well as thirty musical theater roles. His operatic repertoire of twenty-five roles included performances of Alfredo in La Traviata with Anna Moffo and Rodolfo in La Bohème with Roberta Peters.
He was the founder and general manager of Providence Opera Theater, where he produced twenty-one operas, before becoming the head of Opera Columbus in 1983. In his six years in Columbus as General Director, he tripled the company’s budget and produced the world premiere of Thomas Pasatieri’s Three Sisters.
Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Mr. Harrison is in demand as a speaker and is active in community affairs.