Our Team
Melody Chang Heaton
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Melody Chang Heaton is a multi-faceted performer, arts administrator, and voice coach experienced in a wide variety of disciplines including opera, musical theater, and classical music.
Melody was previously the Director of Marketing & Managing Director of Inland Northwest Opera. She serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools of Spokane County and an advisory council member for the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center (currently under construction). She has previously volunteered extensively as a board member for the Spokane Symphony, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Spokane Chapter (APIC Spokane), and Spokane Arts. In addition, she previously served Director of Marketing and Communications for Canto Vocal Programs, with programs located in France, Romania, Croatia, and the US.
In recent years, Ms. Chang Heaton has been seen onstage with the Spokane Symphony, Inland Northwest Opera, and Spokane Valley Summer Theatre. She resides in Spokane, WA with her husband, two cats, and fleet of old European cars.
BOARD PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER
Nicholas Phan
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
Described by the Boston Globe as “one of the world’s most remarkable singers,” American tenor Nicholas Phan is increasingly recognized as an artist of distinction. Praised for his keen intelligence, captivating stage presence and natural musicianship, he performs regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and opera companies. Also an avid recitalist, in 2010 he co-founded the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago (CAIC) to promote art song and vocal chamber music, where he serves as artistic director.Phan has appeared with many of the leading orchestras in the North America and Europe, including the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque, Boston Baroque, Les Violons du Roy, BBC Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra, Strasbourg Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra of London, and the Lucerne Symphony.
Board Members
Advisory Board
Phil Chan, founder Final Bow for Yellowface
Khori Dastoor, General Director and CEO Houston Grand Opera
Adam Diegel, tenor and AOA co-founder
Priti Gandhi, arts administrator
Kelly Kuo, conductor
Indira Mahajan, soprano
Matthew Ozawa, stage director and Chief Artistic Administrative Officer,
Lyric Opera Chicago
Rodell Rosel, tenor
Huang Ruo, composer
Kamala Sankaram, composer
Justin Werner, founder and president of Stratagem Artists
Mo Zhou, stage director