BY KAREN BOSSICK
She was an Opera Deb in high school—she went through a year of attending operas and lectures about opera leading up to being presented.
And now Robyn Watson is the new executive director of Sun Valley Opera.
“I fell in love with opera and the vocal arts when I was in high school,” she said. “I think it is so important to be exposed to the arts at an early age and one of the programs Sun Valley Opera is excited about making stronger is our program bringing our visiting vocal artists into the schools to sing for the students and talk about opera.”
Watson, formerly director of development and events for Sun Valley Opera, takes over for Mary Jo Helmeke, who retired on Aug. 1.
Originally from Oklahoma, Watson attended college in Los Angeles. She became an interior designer, then television producer of movies and mini-series for 20th Century Fox before transitioning into events and non-profit fundraising.
She moved to Hailey in 2006 to be director of development for the Wood River Land Trust.
Sun Valley Opera presents a variety of concerts throughout the year. It also partners with the Big Wood Theater in Hailey to show the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD during fall and winter.
Its 2019 SummerFest will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 1, with a Country Cookout and concert featuring country music star Brandon Lay at the River Grove Ranch north of Hailey.
For information, contact Robyn Watson at Rwatson.SVO@gmail.com or 208-726-0991.