FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2006  

MANITOBA OPERA ANNOUNCES
APPOINTMENT OF HEATHER LASER
AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Manitoba Opera today announced that Heather Laser has been hired for the position of Director of Development. Ms. Laser will be joining the organization Monday, January 29, 2007.  She is presently the Director of Fund Development for Manitoba Theatre Centre (MTC), a position she has held since 1999.

Manitoba Opera’s current Director of Development, Katarina Kupca, who has been with the organization since February 2005, is leaving at the end of January to pursue other interests.

“We've been extremely lucky to have Katarina Kupca as our Director of Development for the last two years, and now we're equally fortunate to have a person of Heather Laser's calibre and experience taking over for her,” said Larry Desrochers, General Director & CEO. “Heather knows the community and has worked in the performing arts for 10 years.  We have an exciting year ahead of us with Otello coming up in April and the development of our new opera, Transit of Venus, and the board, staff and I all look forward to having Heather as part of the team.”

Ms. Laser has a solid background in arts management. Previous to joining MTC, she was the Special Events Manager for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for two years and was the Executive Director of the Association of Manitoba Museums from 1994 to 1997, as well as having worked with the Winnipeg Film Group and Visual Arts Manitoba.

“I am thrilled to be joining the experienced and knowledgeable team at Manitoba Opera,” commented Ms. Laser. “I look forward to contributing my experience and passion for the arts as the company enters an exciting era of new growth.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
DARLENE RONALD  (204)255-0508  dronald84@shaw.ca