Executive Producer Dominic Haddock to join Spitalfields Music
It is with pride and some sadness that we announce that Dominic Haddock, our longstanding Executive Producer, will be leaving OperaUpClose in May to join Spitalfields Music as their Director of Development.
Dominic was in the audience of the very first performance OperaUpClose gave, La Bohème at The Cock Tavern on 8 December 2009. In August 2010, we went into production for The Barber of Seville and invited Dominic, who was a freelance producer, to work with us on the show. We soon offered him a full time producing role, and in 2011 he was appointed Executive Producer.
Alongside Artistic Director, Robin Norton-Hale, Dominic has overseen our development from fringe 'pub opera' start-up, to a national and international mid-scale touring company, which runs education and participation programmes, and develops contemporary opera as well as our more traditional repertoire. Dominic was also Executive Director of the King's Head Theatre during OperaUpClose’s residency at the venue (2010-2015), and was the founding Executive Director of the now flourishing Hope Theatre.
In addition to his work with us, Dominic has volunteered his time to serve as a Trustee of The Opera & Music Theatre Forum, is a former Trustee of Rowan Arts and was an industry mentor with the Business Employment Support Team at Islington Council.
Of his new appointment, Dominic said ''I'm thrilled to be joining Spitalfields Music. I love the world class work that the company produces at its festivals and have huge admiration for the amazing creative projects it delivers in the Tower Hamlets community. It will be a real honour to be part of delivering their programme. I have loved my seven years at OperaUpClose, I've had wonderful colleagues and am proud of what we've achieved together. The company will always have a very special place in my heart and it will be very difficult to say goodbye. I leave knowing that OperaUpClose has never had a better group of people behind it, and that the plans they have are going to keep pushing artistic boundaries and grow the reach and scale of their work in incredibly exciting ways.''
Robin Norton-Hale said, “OperaUpClose owes so much to Dominic. He has been instrumental not only in getting all our shows on stage, but in fundraising, developing young producers, and being a passionate advocate for the work we do and the arts in general. I know Spitalfields Music’s commitment to enabling people of all backgrounds to experience high quality music is close to Dom’s heart, and we wish him every success in his new role and all his future projects.”
Dominic joins a prestigious group of OperaUpClose alumni, with former employees going on to senior roles at the likes of the Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, Young Vic and Donmar Warehouse.