Dynamic conductor Robert Ashens enters his second season as Artistic Director of Eugene Opera. Ashens will conduct all three productions in the season and will make debuts with Rimrock Opera’s Tosca and Eugene Ballet’s Nutcracker. With a repertoire of nearly one hundred operas, he has conducted to great acclaim for the Connecticut Opera, Opera Idaho, Augusta Opera, Shubert Opera, Opera Maine, New Britain Opera, Trouper’s Light Opera, Theater Guild of Simsbury and for Teatro Grattacielo at Lincoln Center. He has served as Music Director and Master of Ceremonies for tributes to Metropolitan Opera stars, Lili Chookasian and Paul Plishka and has accompanied such greats as Lucine Amara, Marcello Giordani and Plishka. Ashens is in constant demand as a lecturer, accompanist and program director for concerts and recitals nationwide. As an educator for nearly thirty years, Ashens’ unique style and commitment focuses on inspiring children to the joys of opera. His lively wit and humor continue to enthrall opera audiences of all ages. email Robert   Peter Geddeis joined Eugene Opera in August after completing an MBA degree in Arts Administration at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. While there, he studied under Fergus G. Currie, former Central Regional Secretary for Actors’ Equity Association, and John Urice, former head of the Florida Arts Council. While at Illinois State, he also spent three years as Assistant Managing Director for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, during which time the Festival opened a state-of-the-art outdoor theatre and experienced a tremendous surge in statewide and national recognition. In addition to his administrative interests, Geddeis has also acted in, directed, and produced numerous plays, workshops and performance pieces. email Peter   Karen Bednarz recently moved to Eugene from Chicago where she worked in public relations and marketing for a small social service agency. After receiving a BS in public relations from Illinois State University she worked with the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Normal, IL. In addition to marketing the arts, Karen has also performed on stage, worked behind the scenes, and enjoyed various management roles for numerous theater organizations. Karen is delighted to return to the arts industry and looks forward to an exciting and challenging season. email Karen     Craig McKenzie has worked extensively in both opera and regional theatre. His positions have included: Technical Assistant at the Metropolitan Opera, Technical Director at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and founding partner of Technical Design Studio, a design and construction shop. This summer he was production manager for Oregon Festival of American Music’s Locomotion and The Twin Rivers Festival. Design credits with Eugene Opera include lighting for The Mikado, Turandot, Opera Under the Stars: Very Verdi Concert, the scenery for Trial by Jury and scenery, costumes and lights for Listen to the River, a collaboration with Kennedy Middle School. Craig created his own company, McKenzie Production Management which provides production management, technical direction and stage management services for the performing arts. Craig earned a B.A. in Mathematics and Theatre Arts from Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, New Haven, Connecticut. email Craig