It’s the first official day of work for three new members of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) team as the inaugural class of the Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship, a new initiative launched by OTSL to address racial equity in the field of opera.
The initiative, announced last fall, is designed to cultivate future arts leaders from historically underrepresented backgrounds, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color.
Opera Theatre has announced the selection of three “exceptional young leaders,” who are joining the organization beginning today as part of its administrative, advancement and artistic departments in hopes of advancing equity in the opera field: Lyanne Alvarado (administration fellow), Quentin Beverly (advancement fellow) and Chandler Johnson (artistic fellow).
The fellows were selected from a diverse, competitive pool of more than 50 candidates, and with work experiences ranging from employment with Texas State Opera Theatre (Alvarado) to coordinating composer Damien Sneed’s “We Shall Overcome” tour (Beverly) to apprenticeships with Stratagem Artists (Johnson).
The fellowship, which runs through July 30, provides in-depth work experience to build the skills, knowledge and capabilities for a successful career in the arts. The full-time positions include salary, benefits, relocation stipend, professional development, networking opportunities and mentorship.
The Clayco Future Leaders Fellowship is funded through a three-year commitment from Bob & Jane Clark and Clayco, the 2021 recipient of the Missouri Arts Award for Philanthropy.
