MN Opera names new president

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Madison Opera's Allan Naplan has been named President and General Director of Minnesota Opera effective March 1, 2011.

After a national search, the Minnesota Opera has found a new President. And it turns out he doesn't have far to move. Allan Naplan has served as the General Director of the Madison Opera since 2005.

Naplan, an accomplished arts administrator, was named a "40 Under 40" honoree by In Business Magazine in 2009. He's also worked as a professional opera singer, a composer and a radio producer/host. Prior to the Madison Opera, Naplan worked for both the Pittsburgh Opera and the Houston Grand Opera.

Naplan's compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Avery Fisher Hall, the White House and in 36 foreign countries. Trivia tid-bit: His "An American Anthem" was chosen to be the inaugural wake-up song for NASA astronauts on Space Shuttle Columbia.

Minnesota Opera's President and CEO Kevin Smith announced he was retiring back in May; Naplan will take his place on March 1, 2011.

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