ABOUT US
The Hunter Opera Theater (HOT) is a college program that mentors singers and composers and resides at Hunter College, CUNY in New York City. HOT produces new works that provide unique opportunities for talented, young artists from all over the country. HOT’s biannual Richard Burke Pocket Opera Project supports the work of up-and-coming composers and librettists and fosters interdepartmental collaborations between Hunter students. In addition, HOT singers have the opportunity to work with some of the finest professionals in the business in our annual series of Master Classes with such artists as Martina Arroyo, Claudia Catania, Warren Jones, Andreas Scholl, Ira Siff, and Willie Anthony Waters. HOT alumni are engaged as performers in venues around the world from the Metropolitan Opera to festivals and opera houses in France, Germany, and beyond. Many alums have continued on to pursue doctoral degrees and work in higher education while others have made careers in arts administration and work as producers, directors, and more. HOT was founded in 2007 by Professor Susan Gonzalez and the late Professor Richard Burke, and is a proud partner with The American Opera Projects as well as members of the NY Opera Alliance & National Opera Association.
ARTISTIC STAFF
Susan Gonzalez, soprano is Director of the Vocal Performance Program and the Hunter Opera Theater which has been showcasing fully staged productions of new works in the Kaye Playhouse since 2007. Among these include the premieres of Nicholas Flagello’s opera The Sisters, Richard Burke’s Game of Poker and The House as well as various student compositions featured in our Pocket Opera Project. As a singer, Susan has appeared in leading roles with numerous opera companies and symphony orchestras including the Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Lake George Opera, Eugene Opera, Dayton Opera, New Orleans Opera, and Bolshoi Opera. She most recently headlined at the Festival de Musique de Huy in Belgium, among performers ranging from classical singers to reggae artists. Susan received an Emmy nomination for the role of Rosina in il Barbiere di Siviglia filmed for television under the direction of Richard Pearlman. She has appeared as featured soloist in major concert halls such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra and the American Composers Orchestra. Some of her honors and awards include the Metropolitan Opera, the George London Foundation, Leonard Warren and Baltimore Opera Competitions as well as the Liederkranz Foundation and American Opera Association. Susan’s love of new works is reflected in her recordings of works by Nicholas Flagello, Ruth Schonthal, Elizabeth Fabregas and Elizabeth Austin on Naxos, Artek and Leonarda
labels as well as two projects for the ROUSSEL Foundation in Paris, France on the Azur label. She currently serves on the Artistic Advisory Council for The American Opera Project and is board member and New York State Governor for the National Opera Association. In addition she sits on Opera America’s Performer Development Forum.
​
Artistic Director/Producer