Angela Turner Wilson

Named General and Artistic Director of Fort Worth Opera (FWO) in 2022, Angela Turner Wilson brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the organization's artistic vision and operational leadership. 

As an artist and administrator, Turner Wilson offers a unique perspective and a steadfast dedication to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and artistic excellence within the opera community. As a native Texan and DFW resident for almost thirty years, Turner Wilson also delivers a commitment to advancing opera appreciation in the Fort Worth community and ensuring the art form’s vitality for future generations.

Since the start of her tenure as General and Artistic Director in 2022, Turner Wilson has already secured major achievements for the company. Performance milestones include the first U.S. performance of the Spanish translation of Gian Carlo Menotti’s La Medium and the regional premiere of American opera dwb (driving while black). Community achievements include an invitation from Bass Performance Hall to join their Children’s Education Program, performing FWO’s own version of Hansel and Gretel to over 4,000 fourth graders, and the acquisition of a major grant from the Moody Foundation to champion the relaunch of FWO’s Relaxed Performances Initiative, which provides re-imagined opera performances to individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) and their families.

Prior to her role at Fort Worth Opera, Turner Wilson demonstrated her dedication to nurturing the next generation of vocal artists and new American works as division chair of voice at Texas Christian University (TCU) and founding director for the TCU Festival of American Song. Through fourteen years of teaching and mentorship at TCU, Turner Wilson played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of aspiring singers, instilling in them a profound understanding of technique, interpretation, and stagecraft.

Beyond her work in academia, Turner Wilson is celebrated for her own career as an opera singer. A soprano, she has previously performed with the Fort Worth Opera as well as with the New York City Opera, Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Boston Lyric Opera, Atlanta Opera, Portland Opera, and the Dallas Opera, among others. In 1998, she performed at the White House for a state dinner honoring the Italian Prime Minister.

Turner Wilson has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from University of Mississippi and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. She has an Artist Certificate in Vocal Performance from Southern Methodist University (SMU).

With her background in performance, education, and arts leadership, Fort Worth Opera General and Artistic Director Angela Turner Wilson will continue to make a lasting impact on the world of opera — inspiring artists, audiences and communities with her vision and unwavering commitment to the transformative power of musical performance.