Join JMU voice professor Dr. Sonya Baker for a one-hour conversation with Afton Battle, the first woman and the first African American to lead Fort Worth Opera. After carving out a successful career as a young operatic singer, Battle became a highly regarded arts administrator, development director, and strategic consultant in the art, ballet, and theatre worlds. This event is free. Donations are encouraged and will support student scholarships in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Live Zoom event on March 30, 2021. Available for on-demand viewing from March 31 @ 12 pm through April 6, 2021.

Afton Battle serves as the first woman and first African American general director of Fort Worth Opera (FWO). FWO celebrates 75 years this season and has become the longest continually active municipal opera association in Texas and the 14th oldest opera company in the United States. 

The appointment of Battle, a native of Amarillo, marks a return to her home state of Texas, where she graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in voice performance before attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she received a Master of Music in voice performance and pedagogy. After carving out a successful career as a young operatic singer, she became a highly regarded arts administrator, development director, and strategic consultant in the art, ballet, and theatre worlds. She has worked with Red Clay Dance Company, National Black Theatre, the African American Policy Forum, and Brooklyn arts and culture firm Red Olive Consulting. She also served as the director of development for New York Theatre Workshop; director of the Annual Campaign for the Joffrey Ballet, America’s premier ballet company; as well as the corporate and foundation relations and individual giving manager for the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to that, she served as the program and grants manager for Bank Street College of Education in New York.

Dr. Sonya G. Baker made her Carnegie Hall debut with renowned conductor Michael Tilson Thomas in 2004, the same year she appeared as soloist on the Yale Alumni Chorus tour to Moscow singing at the Kremlin. Noted for her performances of American music, Baker’s debut recording, SHE SAYS, features art songs of American women composers. Her lecture recital on Marian Anderson's historic 1939 Easter Concert has been presented nationally. She has received numerous academic and vocal awards and is a frequent guest artist and teacher, having taught at Governor's school programs in Kentucky and Virginia. Baker’s past service includes Kentucky State Governor for National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), board member for the Kentucky Arts Council, and university administrative positions. Baker is currently a professor of voice at James Madison University. Along with a Doctor of Music from Florida State University, Baker holds degrees from Indiana and Yale universities. Full bio