Stage Director Robin Guarino Named CCM's J. Ralph Corbett Distinguished Chair in Opera

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) proudly announces that

Robin Guarino

has been named the J. Ralph Corbett Distinguished Chair in Opera. Her appointment becomes effective Sept. 1, 2008.

Said Warren George, interim dean of CCM, "The appointment of Robin Guarino ushers in an exciting new era for CCM Opera. Her extensive work with young artists combined with her outstanding directing credentials promise to advance CCM's tradition of excellence in training the future stars of the opera world."

Guarino's appointment concludes an extensive national search that began in September 2007. She joins CCM after most recently serving on the opera faculty of The Juilliard School, where she was dramatic co-advisor to the Juilliard Opera Theater.

"The search committee is delighted that Ms. Guarino has accepted the position of the J. Ralph Corbett Distinguished Chair in Opera," said Terrell Finney, chair of CCM's OMDA division (opera, drama, musical theater and arts administration) and head of the search team. "She is an exceptionally well-qualified teacher, director and administrator, and the faculty and students at CCM are eager to welcome her to her new home. Ms. Guarino's plans and goals for the opera program are very exciting, and her hire marks an important new milestone in the history of this storied department."

"I've had my eye toward CCM for many years," said Guarino. "When I've worked with young artists in the past, I would hear these really fantastic singers. Time and again, they were CCM students."

She continued, "The way in which CCM is structured is entirely unique, with music theater, opera and drama living together under one roof and extraordinary voice, opera and design faculty coming together. This spirit of collaboration is completely synergistic with the way I teach—a holistic approach toward working with students focusing not just on the music and singing, but also on movement and text and process. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work within this environment."

A native of Bronxville, New York, Guarino received her MFA from Bard College. She was mentored early in her career by the internationally renowned director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle at the Munich State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. The CCM appointment marks the continuation of Guarino's work with emerging young artists, including directing engagements with the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, New York University, UCLA, and San Francisco Opera's Merola Opera and Adler Fellowship Programs.

Guarino's experience also includes directing credits with some of the country's most prominent professional opera companies and performing ensembles. Since 1992, she has worked as a stage director with the Metropolitan Opera, directing and restaging productions of Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro and Lohengrin. Her work also appeared on the stages of Glimmerglass Opera, Seattle Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Virginia Opera, Chautauqua Opera and the American Symphony Orchestra in performances at Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall. Recent engagements include The Marriage of Figaro and L'Etoile for the Wolf Trap Opera Festival, La Calisto, Iphigénie en Aulide and The Magic Flute for Juilliard Opera Theatre, Il Signor Bruschino for Gotham Chamber Opera, and Giulio Cesare in Egitto for Seattle Opera.

A champion of new work, Guarino has helmed several world and national premieres. She directed "Six Ten-Minute Operas I & II" for the Eos Orchestra (New York City), which included the world premieres of chamber operas by Jake Heggie (Again) and Mark Adamo (Avow), the world premiere of David del Tredici's monodrama, Dracula (also with Eos), and the American premiere of Heinrich Sutermeister's Die Schwarze Spinne for Gotham Chamber Opera.

Also a filmmaker, Guarino has produced and directed four independent films including the film Crossing the Atlantic, which was shown on PBS's "Independent Focus."

Her upcoming projects include Aida at Seattle Opera this summer and Don Giovanni at Canadian Opera Company in October 2008. This fall she directs a multimedia oratorio titled Arjuna's Dilemma by composer Douglas Cuomo, which will make its New York debut at the 2008 BAM New Wave Festival in November.

Guarino has won numerous grants, awards and fellowships including the Hamburg Filmhaus Production Grant, New York Foundation for the Arts Artists' Fellowship Award, the Jerome Foundation Fellowship and the New York State Council on the Arts Production Grant.