The North Carolina Opera Names C. Thomas Kunz Named Board President

C. Thomas Kunz has recently been named President of North Carolina OperaBoard of Directors effective July 1, 2014. Kunz said, "I am pleased to continue my association with NCO in this new role and my work with General Director Eric Mitchko, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor Timothy Myers, and the rest of the company's board, patrons and staff."

"Tom Kunz has been a member of the board since April 2013 and has served as a member of the opera's finance committee. Last season, he sponsored the company's production of Così fan tutteand will sponsor Don Giovanni in the 2014/15 season. He is an invested and committed leader," said Mitchko.

"Tom Kunz is not only an outstanding board member, but he also served as a guest conductor for one of the musical selections at the "Opera in the Pines" concert in May. He has a genuine love of music and opera that is inspiring and essential for this position," noted Myers.

Kunz is currently Of Counsel with the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and served as a partner at the firm from 1987-2007. A graduate of Colgate University and the Cornell University Law School, he has practiced law since 1975. He and his wife Diane B. Kunz are the parents to eight children.

Tom Kunz replaces Dr. Stephen Prystowsky, whose successful two-year term as North Carolina Opera Board of Directors president saw considerable growth both artistically and fiscally for the organization as well as an extended reach within the community.

The new board appointments also include Sterling Perkinson as Secretary and John Lunsford as Treasurer, with Ralph Roberson returning as Vice-president.

Sterling Perkinson is an attorney in the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group of Kilpatrick Townsend. Mr. Perkinson also serves as secretary and is a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of Prevent Blindness North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington University School of Law.

John Lunsford holds an MM and BM in Bassoon Performance (from University of Massachusetts and New England Conservatory). After a symphony orchestra performance career of several years, he changed careers and became a CPA. Lunsford has over 24 years of experience in public accounting, focusing on the field of taxation. He has led the firm's tax practice since 1994. Lunsford joined the firm in 1992 after several years working with the tax departments of Ernst & Young, LLP and McGladrey & Pullen, and became a principal of the firm in 1994. He is also the Immediate Past Chair of the Urban Ministries of Wake County Board of Directors.

North Carolina Opera kicks off it's upcoming season with a concert performance of the Prelude and Act II from Wagner's monumental Tristan and Isolde (November 9, 2014 at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh) followed by fully-staged productions of Verdi's heartbreaking favorite La traviata (two performances, February 27 & March 1, 2015 at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh) and Mozart's tragicomedy Don Giovanni (five performances, April 18-26, 2015 at the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh); and a non-subscription special event performances of D.J. Sparr's contemporary opera Approaching Ali (Winter 2015, dates and venue to be announced). Subscriptions and tickets available online at www.ncopera.org or at 919.792.3850.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA OPERA

North Carolina Opera was formed in 2010 from the merger of Capital Opera Raleigh and The Opera Company of North Carolina. It is dedicated to presenting operatic performances at the highest level throughout the Triangle. We also have a robust education program that brings opera to schools across Wake County and surrounding counties. North Carolina Opera brings international level artists to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and also engages the best in local Triangle talent. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NorthCarolinaOpera or on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/ncopera for up to date information on events in the community, news and more.

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