DETROIT, Mich.–Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) has added two directors to its leadership team. MOT appointed Andrea Scobie to Director of Education and Arthur White to Director of External Affairs. Both newly-created positions aim to enhance MOT’s community presence and offerings.
MOT President and CEO Wayne S. Brown said the appointments serve to strengthen and expand the company’s commitment to educational programs and community partnerships.

“Our goal is to attract new education and community partnerships as well as to deepen our relationship with existing partners,” he said. “With these appointments, we are taking on a greater role in ensuring that arts education, and our work with the breadth of communities throughout Southeast Michigan, is enriched.”

Scobie was promoted from her role as MOT’s Manager of Education and Community Programs, which she has held since 2015. She was previously the Director of Education of Matrix Theatre Company as well as the director of the Matrix Teen Company. She has also been an active arts educator, leading training and classes for youth and adults in performance, playwriting, vocal music and pedagogy.

As Director of Education, she will lead MOT’s growing education programs, including MOT’s expanded partnership with the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s Cultural Passport program bringing all district fourth-graders to an opera or dance performance at the Detroit Opera House.
“I have held a lifelong passion for arts education, and I am excited to take my role to the next level leading Michigan Opera Theatre’s expanding educational programming,” she said. “I look forward to working with partners and communities across the state to ensure as many people as possible have access to quality arts education.”

White returns to MOT in September after previously serving as the organization’s Audience Engagement Coordinator from 2013-2015. He is currently Artistic Director of the M on the Bund Opera Series in Shanghai and has held previous roles as an artist manager for performers with opera companies, orchestras and other presenters.

As Director of External Affairs, White’s position will serve MOT’s community programs, marketing and development teams by building new relationships with organizations and institutions throughout the region. “My goal is to continue to build community partnerships and raise awareness of Michigan Opera Theatre in all neighborhoods and communities of Metro Detroit and beyond by sharing the passion, beauty and wonder of opera and dance,” he said. “I am simply thrilled to return to Michigan Opera Theatre, a company I first fell in love with 10 years ago, and whose name I have proudly carried everywhere I have travelled since.”

Formed under the leadership of Karen DiChiera, MOT’s Education and Community Department has been serving Metro Detroit for more than 30 years with programming that includes bringing touring operas into schools, summer performance workshops and community presentations.