A conversation with Gary Brooks,
Opera North President of the Board
Gary Brooks returns to Opera North, making a ‘full circle’ from President in 1982 to just-elected President in 2024.
As he recalls, he joined the organization that would become Opera North at its humble beginnings, singing in a production of Pirates of Penzance with the Parish Players at Tracey Hall. That company, when Louis Burkot joined David Strohmier to found Opera North in 1982, was made up of singers from the local community – to which Gary added his voice.
“The decision to produce Cosi fan tutti at the Lebanon Opera House marked our first major step,” he recalled. “Then, at the same time, Louis instituted the Resident Artists – then called ‘Young Artists’ --program. Because he is a phenomenal coach and teacher, those artists benefitted so much -- with some going on to great careers in the major opera houses of the world -- that the program has become our niche. Now we get 900 applications a year for a dozen or so roles each summer and we have program graduates and their teachers who get the word out about Opera North.”
What do you see now for Opera North as you take the helm as president again?
“The future for Opera North is in expanding our audience and offerings with other genres that introduce people to Blow-Me-Down Farm, and then maybe to opera, too. Our pattern is to produce two operas and a musical each summer, along with programs like Jazz On a Sunday Afternoon and concert performances like Music of the Knights and Bette, Babs and Beyond.
What about those who’d like to see full productions back at Lebanon Opera House?
“One of the challenges to full staging is that LOH does not have room in its schedule for the days of set and lighting prep that is required for full staging. There’s also nowhere to put the orchestra. Long term we want to have a bigger tent, but those plans are significantly expensive. Louis is the first to admit that it’s a challenge to have to downsize for the tent [at Blow-Me-Down Farm], eliminating the chorus and the grand opera staging. But the commitment to keeping the quality of the music as good as we can make it remains. When I look at where we started 42 years ago, and where we are now, I am confident we’ll get there.”
Gary also has the comfort of Opera North’s stalwart supporters in mind. “As a board, we realize the challenge of Blow-Me-Down Farm is we have to make it more accessible and safer – with lighting and more stable footing at night. Plus we’re very aware of the climate. We’re moving performances a little earlier in the season next year. Any organization involved in performing outdoors or quasi-outdoors is in a whole new ballgame.
“Happily, to realize the improvements at the Farm, we have a wonderful relationship with the National Park Service and Rick Kendall (superintendent for Saint Gaudens National Historic Park). Our goal to create a ‘national park for the arts’ is a win-win for Saint Gaudens and Opera North. I want to forge partnerships with more of our local organizations to make the Upper Valley an arts destination that would benefit us all.”
The Board finalized a Strategic Plan last year. What else are you planning?
“We want to increase our family audience – that’s what we did with our Into the Woods family day and what we plan with this year’s production. And we want to get back into the schools. We were known for bringing performance to the schools – and the schools to performances – before the pandemic and we’re going back to that. The hook is giving younger kids a hands-on experience. Next year we’ll be linking the productions with curriculum, explaining ‘this is how opera comes into being, what is has meant historically using literary works. Opera is stories set to beautiful music. Getting the kids involved means you’ll get their parents and other relatives and friends to attend and that helps build an audience.”
It's also important to bring in a range of ages for Board members?
“Yes. We’ve had some recent interest from young professionals in the Upper Valley – which has always been a place that loves music. We’re inviting anyone who would be interested in serving on the Opera North board to get in touch.”
As someone with interests in answering the challenges of food and housing insecurity, how do you encourage people to invest in the nonprofits that serve the arts, like Opera North?
“When someone is hungry, you need to address that priority. But feeding the soul is important too. When you nourish the spirit you make life more enjoyable. Opera North stands out as a nonprofit that recognizes that value and puts the foundation in place to be around for the long term.”