Brett Finley (Board Member)

Brett lives in Ann Arbor, MI and works as a freelance stage manager for opera companies around the country. She spent 10 years on the faculty at the University of Michigan, where she created the BFA in Stage Management. She frequently works for the UM Opera Department mentoring student stage managers.

In recent years, she has stage managed productions for San Diego Opera, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Arizona State University, Operafestival di Roma, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Colorado, Mill City Summer Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Carolina, Glimmerglass Opera, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, and Michigan Opera Theatre.

In addition to her stage management work, Brett loves working with young people, and especially enjoys exploring a student’s individual creativity through live musical performance.

She has worked on various high school musical productions as co-director and consultant. She is also trained in the MET Creating Original Opera program, and created, with middle school students, two operas from scratch at the Ann Arbor Waldorf School. This included guiding the students in writing, composing, and creating all technical aspects of an original opera.

Brett is passionate about opera, her chosen art form, and she is thrilled that she can spend her life collaborating on productions with people from all walks of life with a plethora of experiences.