Khori Dastoor

Khori Dastoor is an American operatic soprano and actress, now serving as General Director of Opera San Jose[1]. A native of Pasadena, California, she was a resident artist with Opera San José from 2007-2010[2]. Her voice was recognized for its formidable, silvery upper register and graceful, crisp sound.[3]

Khori Dastoor
BornPasadena, Ca
GenresOpera, Musical Theater
Occupation(s)Opera singer (soprano)

After enjoying a vibrant operatic career as a lyric soprano on stages throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, Dastoor returned home in 2012 to pursue a life in artistic administration. She joined the artistic staff of Opera San José in 2013 as Artistic Advisor to the General Director under Irene Dalis, later becoming the Director of Artistic Planning where she was responsible for artist recruitment, negotiations, artistic budget management, interdepartmental communication, audition strategy, industry interface, liaison to creative teams, city contacts, artist managers and senior staff. In 2019, the Board of Directors appointed her General Director, [4]succeeding the retiring Larry Hancock. She officially took the helm in January 2020, announcing a robust season [5](now postponed due to COVID-19). In response to the pandemic, she immediately created an Artists Emergency Fund[6], and then established a digital media lab [7]for streaming of operatic works.

Dastoor has also served as the Associate Director of the Packard Humanities Institute responsible for initiatives encompassing arts, music, and archaeology. In this capacity she worked closely with PHI's President and various grantee organizations on a wide range of collaborative projects involving performance, historical conservation, and digital musicology.

Dastoor also acted as Director of the San Francisco District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, overseeing all aspects of SF MONC, including fundraising, strategic planning, administration, marketing, team staffing, volunteer recruitment and oversight, judge selection, community engagement, corporate sponsorships and institutional partnerships.

Education

Dastoor graduated with honors from the New England Conservatory of Music, and as of 2010 was concluding her doctoral studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was the recipient of the Dean's Award for the School of Arts and Architecture.[8]

Career

Khori Dastoor performed in such venues as Los Angeles Opera, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Opera San Jose, the Colburn School, Aspen Music Festival, Royce Hall, Lake George Opera, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Songfest 2004 at Pepperdine University.[9]

She also appeared internationally with orchestras such as the American Youth Symphony, the California Philharmonic, and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey.[10]

The operatic repertoire which she performed included such roles as Gilda (Rigoletto), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Sophie (Werther), Adina (L'elisir d'amore), Despina (Così fan tutte), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Micaela (Carmen), Clorinda (La Cenerentola), Manon (Manon), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), Gabrielle (La Vie parisienne), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), and Lakmé (Lakmé), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Oscar (Un ballo in maschera), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor) and Cunegonde (Candide).[11][12][13][14][15]

Her contemporary repertoire included such premier roles as La Novia in Lorca, Child of the Moon and Mary in the world premiere of Paul Chihara's Magnificat.[16]


gollark: I trigger a communist revolution.
gollark: I read the communist manifesto to them.
gollark: But it would require labour, so it has value.
gollark: I explain the labour theory of value to them.
gollark: As a service, I can walk around the shop 86 times.

References
  1. https://www.operasj.org/about-us/administration-3/khori-dastoor/
  2. "Operagoers hear a new, thrilling voice in S.J." September 18, 2007.
  3. Kosman, Joshua (February 15, 2008). "Review: Opera San José does 'Rigoletto' right". SFGate.
  4. https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/a-bold-new-director-takes-the-reins-at-opera-san-jose
  5. https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/01/21/bollywood-figaro-opera-san-jose-sets-stunning-new-season/
  6. https://www.sfcv.org/article/facing-crisis-opera-san-jose-sets-up-relief-fund-for-its-musicians
  7. https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/Opera-San-Jos-Announces-New-Digital-Space-Kicking-Off-With-DICHTERLIEBE-In-July-20200611
  8. "Music department grad student Khori Dastoor shines as Manon | music @ UCLA". Music.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2010-05-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "World Premiere of Paul Chihara's Magnificat at UCLA Featuring The Angeles Chorale, UCLA Chorale and Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra. - Business Wire". Encyclopedia.com. 2007-06-04. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  11. "Opera San José - Khori Dastoor". Operasj.org. 2008-09-20. Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  12. "Articles by Jenine Baines". American Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  13. "Review: 'The Marriage of Figaro' is tremendous entertainment". San Jose Mercury News. 2010-05-18. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  14. Caroline and Shannon. "California Philharmonic Orchestra Finale Review - Left Us "Wanting For More"". Lasplash.com. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  15. MacClelland, Scott, Vocal Up-and-Comers, San Francisco Classical Voice, September 11, 2007
  16. "New CD releases:". Iankrouse.com. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
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