Staff:

**Artistic Director/Founder: Danielle Wright (they/xe)**
Danielle Wright, founded Opera MODO to fill the need for emerging artists who are done with school and seeking opportunities to develop artistically and gain stage experience. The word modo in Italian means opportunity. Though the company was officially formed in 2011, Mx. Wright produced 7 fully staged operas before giving Opera MODO its formal name and direction. They love to watch people grow and flourish. Mx. Wright made xer MainStage operatic debut in 2010 with Des Moines Metro Opera, and is an active performer across the United States. Contact Danielle!

Managing Director, Diane Schoff (she/her) — **MODO’s HUMAN Resource: Diane Schoff (she/her)**
Diane Rae Schoff, Mezzo-Soprano, is a regular character on stages around the midwest. This past summer she made her company and role debut with Glow Lyric Theatre as Serena Joy in their production of ‘A Handmaid’s Tale.’ In 2022 she returned to Opera Grand Rapids as one of her very favorite characters, Ruth, in their Pirates of Penzance. Ms. Schoff performed with Detroit Opera (formerly Michigan Opera Theater) for their 21/22 season in their revival of their Original production of “Frida” and in “Bliss” at the historic Michigan Building Parking Garage, where singers and instrumentalists played and sang the same glorious 3 minutes of music from the end of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” for 12 hours. In 2020 Ms.Schoff was honored to join Detroit Opera for her role debut of Zita in their production of ‘Gianni Schicci.’ During her time in Michigan, having found an artistic home at Detroit Opera, Ms Schoff has performed many roles including, the 2nd maid in ‘Elektra’, Natalia Trotsky in ‘Frida’, The 2nd Lady in ‘Die Zauberflote’ and Aunt Cecilia in ‘Little Women’.. Recent performances in surrounding areas inclu joining Opera Grand Rapids as Katisha in their production of ‘The Mikado’ and Toledo Opera as the 3rd Lady in ‘The Magic Flute’ and the Old Baroness in ‘Vanessa’. Ms Schoff received high praise for her company and role debut with Opera Carolina as Marcellina in their 2017 production of ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’. Opera News said “It would be hard to imagine a better portrayal of Marcellina, both physically and vocally than that of Diane Schoff.” Opera Carolina has hosted Ms.Schoff on many occasions delighting audiences with her “look that could drop a horse at 50 feet” (Toledo Blade) as The Duchess of Crackenthorpe in ‘La Fille du Regiment’ and as Mme Larina in ‘Eugene Onegin.’ Ms Schoff can often be heard and seen in the Opera in the Parks with Detroit Opera’s outreach concerts and at Spirit Plaza. An avid performer of concert, oratorio, and classical works with orchestra, she recently debuted with Orchestra Sono as the alto soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson mass and the Schubert mass in G. Diane holds the honor of being a National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Competition, and is a graduate of the world renowned San Francisco Opera’s Merola apprentice program.

**Executive Director: Katrina Fasulo (she/her)**
New York City native Katrina Fasulo (she/her) is a mezzo-soprano, arts leader, and fundraiser. Her passion lies in the nexus of uniting constituents with opera in engaging and impactful ways, and is delivered through a philosophy and practice rooted in transformational and servant leadership.
As a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.M.A. vocal performance, arts management, program in entrepreneurship) and Seattle University (M.F.A. arts leadership), Fasulo leverages a background at the intersection of artist/administrator and practice/academia to achieve strategic goals. Within her local community, she is an active arts volunteer and advocate, having served on multiple granting and artistic funding panels alongside participation on a steering committee working to diversify classical arts audiences and bolster community engagement. She volunteers with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, WMHT community advisory board, the New York State Council on the Arts community regrant panel, and the 2022 MAP Fund review panel, among others. She finds fulfillment in supporting artists, fostering belonging and inclusivity on and off stage, and building audiences for sustainability through authentic cultural experiences. With a firm belief in lifelong learning, she recently participated in the inaugural cohort of Aubrey Bergauer's leadership development course and "Summer Uplevel." Katrina's projects and research have been highlighted and quoted in interviews, panels, and guest speaking engagements with OPERA America, OperaWire, U-M SMTD Excel, the Crescendo Club and entrepreneurship cohorts facilitated by peers and colleagues. Her commitment to understanding field trends and growing audiences of opera in intentional ways is a palpable continuation of her thesis "Opera Under Reconstruction: Strategic Responses for Audience Engagement in the 21st Century."
She is an active individual member of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Racial Justice Opera Network, and the Women's Opera Network. Katrina was selected as one of three protégés in the 2023 Mentorship Program for Women Administrators, the fifth iteration of a competitive development program, facilitated by OPERA America - working closely with mentor Julia Noulin-Mérat, CEO & General Director of Opera Columbus, on objectives that build upon her decade of practical field experience.

Music Director: Dr. Steven McGhee (he/him)

Steven McGhee, Artistic Director, has been involved with Opera MODO in Detroit since 2014. He has also served as music director for MODO’s productions stunning, impactful productions of Albert Herring, Carmen, Cendrillon, Cosí fan tutte, Bon Opératit, and Semele.

Other favorite past productions include: the world premiere workshop of Bright Sheng's The Dream of the Red Chamber, Ariadne auf Naxos, L'Elisir d'amore, The Cunning Little Vixen, at the University of Michigan; Cosí fan tutte with Pine Mountain Music Festival; Le Nozze di Figaro with Arbor Opera Theatre; Candide with The Michigan Theatre; The Light in the Piazza at New York University; Hansel and Gretel with Berkshire Opera Theater; and the off-Broadway premiere of Don Imbroglio at the New York Musical Theater Festival.

Contact Steven!

What makes Opera MODO so great?

Opera MODO is all about connection: among the artists, and between the artists, their audience and their shared community. MODO creates a reason for opera-creators and new and veteran opera-fans to get acquainted, up close and personal.

Production, Programming, and Development Volunteer Staff:

Assistant Director, Stage Manager: Lauren Lenz (she/her)Soprano Lauren Lenz is a recent graduate of Oakland University, where she studied under Dr. Edie Diggory. Lauren received her Bachelor of Arts in Music in December 2016, focusing primarily on vocal performance and opera production during her studies. Aside from performing, Lauren also teaches private voice lessons and has directed several children's choirs in the Detroit area. She recently made her operatic debut as Pistola in Opera MODO's Falstaff.admin@operamodo.com — **Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Intimacy Director: Lauren Lenz (she/her)**
Soprano Lauren Lenz is a recent graduate of Oakland University, where she studied under Dr. Edie Diggory. Lauren received her Bachelor of Arts in Music in December 2016, focusing primarily on vocal performance and opera production during her studies. Aside from performing, Lauren also teaches private voice lessons and has directed several children's choirs in the Detroit area. She recently made her operatic debut as Pistola in Opera MODO's Falstaff.
admin@operamodo.com

Development: Lydia Bangura (she/her)Lydia Bangura is a lifelong music performer, with experience studying viola and voice. She holds a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University (2019), a master's degree from the Chicago College of Performin… — **Development: Lydia Bangura (she/her)**
Lydia Bangura is a lifelong music performer, with experience studying viola and voice. She holds a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University (2019), a master's degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University (2021) and is currently enrolled at the University of Michigan studying music theory. Her recent roles include Ellen Orford in Britten’s *Peter Grimes*, Franca in Adam Guettel’s *The Light in the Piazza*, and the solo soprano in Judith Weir’s one woman opera, *King Harald's Saga*. She has recently launched a podcast series titled "The Theory Club: A Music Theory and Musicology Podcast," co-hosted by fellow Roosevelt student, Emily Zwijack.

Production Coordinator: Jennifer Noel (she/her)

Jennifer Noel made her Opera MODO debut in 2020 as Sister Antoine in Dialogues of the Carmelites. She holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music Performance for Oberlin Conservatory of Music as well as a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Houston. Ms. Noel has performed with Cincinnati Opera, Bluegrass Opera, Opera Southwest, and Pittsburgh Festival Opera, among others. She very much enjoys working behind the scenes as well and is very excited to be a part of the Opera MODO team!