HOUSE MEMORIAL 59

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Peter Wirth

A MEMORIAL

CONGRATULATING AND COMMENDING CHARLES MACKAY FOR HIS ARTISTIC AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS GENERAL DIRECTOR OF THE SANTA FE OPERA UPON HIS ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS INTENTION TO STEP DOWN FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE OPERA.

     WHEREAS, Charles MacKay, general director of the Santa Fe opera, has announced that he will end his distinguished tenure at the helm of the opera on September 30, 2018; and

     WHEREAS, at the time of his departure, MacKay will have been the general director for ten years and will have served the opera for twenty cumulative years, and his association with the opera will have spanned fifty years; and

     WHEREAS, MacKay began his life-long love of opera at the age of nine with his first Santa Fe opera youth night performance of Die Fledermaus; and

     WHEREAS, MacKay started his opera career at the Santa Fe opera as a thirteen-year-old parking lot attendant and then, working for John Crosby, the founding general director of the Santa Fe opera, MacKay went on to positions as a french horn player in the opera orchestra, backstage worker, administrative staff member, box office manager, development manager and business office manager; and

     WHEREAS, as general director, MacKay has provided for unwavering artistic excellence, financial stability and beautiful and comprehensive facility improvements at the Santa Fe opera; and

     WHEREAS, under MacKay's business direction, the Santa Fe opera's net assets have doubled to one hundred twenty-one million dollars ($121,000,000) and its operating budget has increased to twenty-four million dollars ($24,000,000); and

     WHEREAS, following MacKay's artistic direction, the Santa Fe opera has furthered its bold and innovative repertoire, commissioned five main stage world premiere operas, including Cold Mountain and The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, and presented fifty-one productions of forty-eight different operas; and

     WHEREAS, MacKay has expanded the Santa Fe opera's educational and community outreach initiatives, serving fifty-two thousand children and adults in New Mexico, and has overseen the development of young artists through apprenticeship programs for singers and technicians; and

     WHEREAS, prior to 2008, MacKay served as general director of the opera theatre of St. Louis for twenty-three years and director of development and finance of the Spoleto festival U.S.A. and the festival of two worlds in Spoleto, Italy; and

     WHEREAS, MacKay is a member of the board of directors of OPERA America, serving as chairman from 2004 to 2008, and has served as chairman of the opera-music theater panel of the national endowment for the arts;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Charles MacKay be congratulated and commended for his contribution to the artistic, musical and cultural heritage of the Santa Fe opera and the state of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Charles MacKay be wished all the best in his future endeavors; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Charles MacKay, the board of directors of the Santa Fe opera and the board of directors of OPERA America.

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