Michael Sakir
conductor
Conductor Michael Sakir has been praised for his “artistic authority,” “fluidity of expression,” and “great delicacy of feeling.” He serves as Artistic Director of Opera Montana (formerly Intermountain Opera Bozeman) which was recently praised by the London-based Opera Now magazine as “a small but thriving opera company that is not restrained by convention.” The innovative programming, community partnerships, and robust education programs under his leadership have led to record-breaking ticket sales and company growth.
Sakir previously served as Music Director of Opera Memphis with whom, in addition to conducting nearly two dozen productions, he was deeply involved in the company’s groundbreaking civic practice programs, commissioning projects, and the creation of the Handorf Company Artist Program.
Recent conducting engagements include Seattle Opera, Arizona Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Opera Baltimore, Opera Idaho, Brevard Music Center, Opera Company of Middlebury, Opera Orlando, Eugene Opera, Northwestern University, American Opera Projects, Temple University, Opera in the Ozark, and Opera North (NH).
Sakir has held chorus master, assistant conductor, and coach positions for nearly three dozen productions with Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Sarasota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Pensacola Opera, and Opera Boston.
Sakir holds bachelor degrees in Piano Performance and Music History from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a graduate degree in Orchestral Conducting from The Boston Conservatory. He was a participant in the 2017 OPERA America Leadership Intensive, and is a native of Northern California.
