Ian Rye
MBA
Chief Executive Officer
With Pacific Opera, Ian has stewarded the creation of over 60 original opera productions, new opera commissions, cultivated an enhancement of artistic scope, and orchestrated a co-production model that has positioned Victoria-made productions on opera stages across Canada and the U.S. He has stewarded youth and education programs and community collaborations, and was key to the creation of the Baumann Centre as a community hub for increased participation in opera.
Previously, Ian was the Director of Artistic Administration for Pacific Opera Victoria, the Director of Production at the Belfry Theatre, and an Instructor of Design at the University of Victoria. His scenic and lighting designs for dance, opera and theatre have played at notable stages across Canada. His designs for Pacific Opera Victoria include the world première of Mary’s Wedding, South Pacific, and Ariadne auf Naxos.
Ian earned an MBA in Executive Management and Management Consulting from Royal Roads University, and is an alumnus of the Opera America Leadership Intensive. He previously studied theatre production and design at Ryerson and the Banff Centre for the Arts. An active volunteer, Ian is a recent contributor to the World Opera Forum and the Arts and Culture Master Plan Advisory Group for the City of Victoria. He is vice chair of the Association for Opera in Canada, and serves on the board of OPERA America.