Managing Director

Gretchen Van Valen joined Opera Ithaca as Managing Director in July 2023. Previously, she served as the Director of Alumni and Family Engagement at Ithaca College, leading several successful initiatives that significantly increased alumni participation. Gretchen brings over 25 years of experience as a strategic and visionary professional in higher education and non-profit engagement. In addition to her expertise in philanthropy and constituent engagement, she is a lyric soprano and voice teacher. Her performance experience includes solo work, recitals, choir performances, and appearances with Ithaca Opera, The Savoyards, and Opera Ithaca. Notably, she played the role of Pamina in "The Magic Flute" at Ithaca College. Gretchen is on the Board of Directors and teaches private voice lessons at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts in Trumansburg, NY. She is also the Co-Music Director of Trumansburg High School's spring 2025 musical, "Newsies." She earned her Bachelor of Science in Vocal-Choral Music Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and her Master's in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College.