Lomelí returns to Dallas Opera as CEO

The Dallas Opera Chair Quincy Roberts announced the appointment of David Lomelí (pictured) as the next Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, effective June 1. Lomelí returns to The Dallas Opera (TDO) in this new role after serving at the Santa Fe Opera as Chief Artistic Officer and Chief Artistic Advisor for five years, as well as at the Bayerische Staatsoper as Casting Director and Head of International Partnerships and Strategy. He previously served The Dallas Opera in progressively senior artistic roles for over a decade — including founding director of the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, which received the International Opera Awards’ Equal Opportunities & Impact Award in 2025 — and has continued as Artistic Consultant since 2021. Known for bridging artistic excellence with strategic and financial leadership, Lomelí has managed budgets ranging from $15 million, developed international co-production partnerships that generated new revenue streams, and cultivated relationships with global corporate and cultural partners. He is a founding member of OPERA America’s Diversity Initiative and a frequent speaker on artistic leadership and talent development. — Rachelle Roe