Jessica Derventzis, Stage Director

Stage director Jessica Derventzis hails from Toronto, Ontario and came to opera by way of playing piano. She began her studies at Queen's University as a music major, but quickly added theatre to her studies after accompanying rehearsals for the opera company in her first year. She went on to direct Les Dialogues des Carmélites and Trouble in Tahiti while in Kingston.

After graduating, Jessica took over the theatre department at her old high school, Mentor College. She spent 5 years there moulding young minds and directing over 20 productions including: Little Shop of Horrors, Twelve Angry Men, Crazy For You, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Neil Simon's Rumors.

Since leaving education, Jessica has worked steadily assisting and directing. She created an indie opera company with her best friend, conductor Stuart Martin, Stu&Jess Productions. So far, they have produced The Medium, Le Docteur Miracle, and L'Heure Espagnole together in Montreal.

Jessica also has the incredible honour of being mentored by Rob Herriot and has assisted him on three productions already with the Calgary Opera.

Most recently, Jessica directed the Canadian premiere of Ned Rorem's Our Town with Opera Nuova.

Coming up, she will be co-directing Die Fledermaus with Opera 5 in Toronto and directing Die Zauberflöte with Opera Kelowna.