10 Years with Arizona Opera

AZOOMA is made up of 52 musicians primarily from Phoenix with 22 musicians hailing from Tucson, Flagstaff, and out of the state. On average, AZOOMA members have been performing with the company for over ten years.

The orchestra is a cohesive group of professionals that have developed a distinctive sound and camaraderie through decades of performing together.

Background

The story began over ten years ago.

In 1998 General Director David Speers set in motion a plan to nurture and expand the artistic excellence of the company. This included innovative sets, costumes and lighting, the engagement of the talented young artists and an “in-house” orchestra with an expanded rehearsal schedule.

In 2000 the company took a step further and appointed Maestro Cal Stewart Kellogg as its first Principal Conductor. The largest and most professional group of musicians in the organization’s history was established.

A leap forward

By establishing a dedicated orchestra and principal conductor for the opera, Arizona Opera made a strong artistic commitment to the cultural life of Phoenix and Tucson. The community responded with record subscription sales, increased single ticket sales, sold out productions and enthusiastic critical acclaim.

Since the arrival of Maestro Joel Revzen in 2003, the company and the orchestra has continued to grow and thrive. His broad experience, and association with the world-famous Metropolitan Opera, have been a boon to the company.

Institutional memory

Today, through its long-time personnel AZOOMA has become the institutional memory of opera in Arizona. AZOOMA is a tried-and-true tradition of Arizona Opera and its artistic collaborative process.