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New Additions to the Opera Colorado Team |
DENVER—As Opera Colorado begins its 2025–26 Season, the company is energized by new additions to its leadership team and a bold season lineup that builds on its longstanding commitment to excellence, access, and innovation.
Barbara Lynne Jamison has officially begun her tenure as the Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO, bringing a deep commitment to artistic excellence, civic impact, and inclusive growth. Joining her in shaping Opera Colorado’s exciting future are two new senior leaders: Dennis Robinson, Jr., Director of Programs and Partnerships, and Sara Leitch, Director of Development, who both join the company this month. Their full bios can be found below.
Robinson is a nationally recognized stage director and expert in building and maintaining meaningful civic impact with partnerships and community-centered arts programs. Most recently Director of Programs and Partnerships at Seattle Opera, Robinson has led transformative initiatives across the country with organizations including Pittsburgh Opera, Palm Beach Opera, and The Glimmerglass Festival. In addition to building ongoing, strategic partnerships for Opera Colorado, Robinson will guide growth for existing school programs and nationally recognized Artist in Residence program.
Leitch brings extensive experience in philanthropy, public space activation, and donor engagement, most recently serving as Director of External Affairs at Denver’s Civic Center Conservancy. Her work has spanned the country, including leadership roles at Prospect Park Alliance and GrowNYC in New York. She adds her community centered approach to philanthropy to Opera Colorado as we build a passionate, involved network of Coloradans who wish to ensure a bright tomorrow for opera in our region.
“This is an exhilarating moment for Opera Colorado,” says Jamison. “Dennis and Sara bring fresh ideas, deep experience, and a true passion for connecting people through the arts. I’m excited for the season ahead—and even more excited for the relationships, creativity, and impact to our community we’ll build along the way.”
As this dynamic team takes the helm, Opera Colorado’s 2025–26 Season offers something for everyone, from iconic operas to in-school workshops, with more to be announced:
- Mainstage Productions at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House:
La traviata (Nov 1–9, 2025) and Madama Butterfly (May 2–10) - Student Dress Rehearsal for La traviata (Oct 30)
- Student Dress Rehearsal for Madama Butterfly (April 30)
- Custom in-school workshops offered year-round
- Backstage workshops (Feb 2026)
- Touring productions of The Pirates of Penzance and Romeo & Juliet, bringing live opera to schools and communities across the state
For more information on all programs and prices, visit operacolorado.org or contact Jennifer Colgan at jcolgan@operacolorado.org or 303.468.2025.
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Dir. of Programs & Partnerships, Dennis Robinson, Jr. |
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Dennis Robinson, Jr. is an award-winning arts leader and stage director driven by a singular belief: the arts shouldn’t just be accessible—they should be irresistible. With a career dedicated to dismantling barriers and building inclusive, meaningful cultural experiences, Dennis has become known as a bold connector who turns vision into impact.
As Director of Programs and Partnerships at Seattle Opera, Dennis shaped the company’s second stage performances and engagement programs for all ages—crafting initiatives that reengaged communities historically excluded from opera and deepened civic partnerships across the region. His work centered on dynamic programming, sustainable collaborations, and advancing Seattle Opera’s Racial Equity and Social Impact plan.
Dennis’ career also includes leadership roles at Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Palm Beach Opera, City Theatre Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, where he consistently launched programs that broadened audiences and strengthened institutional relevance. As a stage director, Dennis brings a storyteller’s instinct to his work in opera, musicals, and plays. Some of his opera directing credits include Opera Carolina, North Carolina Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Pittsburgh Opera, Toledo Opera, New Jersey State Opera, and the Virginia Arts Festival.
Dennis currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Rhapsody Project and the Community Advisory Board for Classical KING. Recognized for his leadership and impact, Dennis was named one of Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and received the Washington Governor’s Arts & Heritage Young Leader Award in 2024.
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Dir. of Development, Sara Leitch |
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Sara Leitch brings a multifaceted professional background to her role at Opera Colorado, combining experience in nonprofit development, communications, and law. Since transitioning to the nonprofit sector, she has built a track record in fundraising, engagement, and strategic growth.
Most recently, Sara served as Director of External Affairs at Civic Center Conservancy, where she played a central role in tripling the organization’s revenue and staff size, and helped position the organization for transformational capital campaign that will revitalize Denver’s most iconic public space. Her leadership at the organization included cultivating donor and institutional partnerships, launching volunteer and beautification programs, and developing storytelling-driven philanthropy campaigns that bolstered both visibility and impact.
Prior to her work in Denver, Sara held development roles at Prospect Park Alliance and GrowNYC. Sara earned her B.A. in Psychology and her J.D. from the University of Iowa. She lives in Denver with her young family and brings a deep appreciation for how civic assets foster vibrancy, belonging, and shared experience among communities.
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Our CEO in the Media |
It's been a busy week for Barbara, as she spent time getting to know the staff and made appearances on three Denver news stations. See her clips from those appearances below!
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Barbara on NBC 9News, August 6
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Barbara on CBS News, August 7
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Barbara on Great Day Colorado, August 4
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Hi there, have questions?
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