Leave it to Linda and Mitch Hart to inspire others! Just last month they provided a nice financial support for an “innovative program to support the career aspirations and advancement of women conductors in the field of opera, while addressing the thorny problems resulting from ingrained gender inequality at the top of the profession.”
As a thank you, the program was officially named “The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera.”
Well, the initiative evidently impressed the folks at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, who just “awarded a $500,000 grant over a three-year period” to support the program that is truly unique.
And the timing couldn’t be more perfect, as the inaugural institute takes place from Saturday, November 28, through Sunday, December 6. The ladies benefiting from the institute will include Jennifer Condon of Australia/Germany, Jessica Gethin of Australia, Natalie Murray Beale of the United Kingdom, Stephanie Rhodes of the U.S., Anna Skryleva of Russia/Germany and Lidiya Yankovskaya of the U.S.
The American observers will be: Arianne Abela, Luçik Aprahämian, Avlana Eisenberg and Co Boi Nguyen.
Bravo, Linda, Mitch, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and The Dallas Opera.