Joe Illick

Joe Illick is the Composer-in-Residence and the Music Director Emeritus of Fort Worth Opera. He has served as the Artistic Director of Fort Worth Opera from 2017 to 2022, having served for fifteen seasons as Music Director and Principal Conductor. From 2007 to 2017 he served as Executive and Artistic Director of Performance Santa Fe. He has also served as Artistic Director of the Lake George Opera Festival, as Interim Artistic Director of Greater Miami Opera (now Florida Grand Opera) and as Music Director of the Pittsburgh Opera Theater. He was the Artistic Director of Shreveport Opera and Principal Guest Conductor of the Teatro Lirico d’Europa. He has also conducted for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera Carolina, San Francisco Opera (Merola), Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Augusta Opera, Opera Omaha, Skylight Opera Theater, Eugene Opera, Nevada Opera Theater, Minnesota Opera National Tour, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Greater Miami Opera, Teatro Lirico d’Europa, Lake George Opera Festival, Atlantic Opera USA, Stadttheater Aachen, Vienna Chamber Opera (Wiener Kammeroper) and the Covent Garden Ensemble. He is the conductor of the recordings of the world premieres of Thomas Pasatieri’s operas FRAU MARGOT and BEFORE BREAKFAST, and of the world premiere of Jorge Martin’s opera BEFORE NIGHT FALLS, all on the Albany label.