Meet Our Executive Director: Suzanne Nance
Since 1 January, Suzanne Nance has been leading Wexford Festival Opera as Executive Director, bringing her international experience to Ireland’s premier opera festival.
Named a 2022 Woman of Influence and “the CEO building a radio powerhouse” by the Portland Business Journal, Suzanne joins us from Portland, Oregon, where she spent eight years as President and CEO of All Classical Radio. During her tenure, she oversaw unprecedented growth and record-breaking audience expansion, and led major artistic and infrastructural projects, including a state-of-the-art media arts centre and performance hall, which opened in 2024. In 2019, she launched the International Children’s Arts Network, dedicated to engaging younger audiences with the arts.
She created the Emmy Award-winning TV series MaineArts!, has presented the internationally syndicated Lyric Opera of Chicago radio broadcasts, and has been a guest presenter on RTÉ’s Lyric FM.
Reflecting on her new role, Suzanne says:
"I am deeply honoured to join Wexford Festival Opera as Executive Director, especially as we prepare to celebrate 75 extraordinary years of artistic excellence in 2026. There is a distinct and enduring magic to Wexford – rooted in the warmth of its people and their profound commitment to the arts. The unwavering support of the local community, the Board, and the Arts Council has been essential to the Festival’s enduring success. As the home of the National Opera House, Wexford holds a cherished place not only in Ireland, but on the international stage. I am thrilled to be part of this remarkable legacy and to help amplify Ireland’s rich contributions to opera and the arts."
Paul Cleary, Chairman of the Board of Wexford Festival Trust, adds:
"We are absolutely delighted to welcome Suzanne Nance to Wexford Festival Opera. She is a dynamic and visionary leader whose deep passion for opera and proven track record in arts leadership make her the ideal choice to guide the company into its next chapter. Under her leadership, I have every confidence Wexford Festival Opera will continue to thrive and grow."
As originally reported by The Independent.