Interim Artistic Director
Lynn Craver is a versatile coloratura soprano and actress. She has performed roles including Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Marion in The Music Man, Hélène in Une éducation manquée , Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Madame Hertz in Der Schauspieldirektor, Erste Dame in Die Zauberflote, Ermia in Il Sogno, The Dew Fairy in Hänsel und Gretel, and Cunegonde in Candide among others. An active member of the Ithaca arts community, Lynn is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of Opera Ithaca, served as Development Assistant for the Kitchen Theatre, was Production Coordinator for the former Ithaca Opera, and has performed with community arts organizations including the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Triphammer Arts Inc., Cornell Savoyards, Kitchen Theatre Company, and Women’s Works as well as appearing in recital at various local venues. Also dedicated to the art of teaching, Lynn instructs voice at the Performing Arts Department, SUNY Cortland, is the Director of the Apprentice Artist program at Opera Ithaca, and teaches a private voice studio in Ithaca, NY. Lynn earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College.
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.