Staff Biographies

Carol Penterman, Executive Director
Ms. Penterman was chosen as executive director from a field of 25 applicants in January 1995. Prior to coming to Nashville, she was an independent producer/administrator working with many companies including Opera Carolina, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, New Orleans Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera. She holds a Master of Music degree from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and worked as a professional opera singer prior to her administrative career. Ms Penterman has served as an Opera panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, as Chair of the Nashville Arts Coalition and as Producer of the Nashville Chamber's "Evening with the Arts."

John Hoomes, Artistic Director
Before joining NOA in 1995, Mr. Hoomes served for 6 years as the Resident Stage Director of Kentucky Opera. Since receiving his Masters Degree at Indiana University, he has worked for opera companies including Kentucky Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Memphis, Glimmerglass Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Sarasota Opera. In 1993 the United States Information Agency granted Mr. Hoomes the title of "American Cultural Expert." As a part of this appointment, Mr. Hoomes spent four weeks in Argentina with the Teatro Colon and their Instituto Superior. Utilizing young singers from the Instituto, Mr. Hoomes staged a "North American" opera and taught master classes in opera history, characterization and acting for the operatic stage.

Steve Aiken, General Director for Advancement
Steven Paul Aiken attended the University of Alaska/Anchorage, and had an acclaimed performing career which delighted audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and South America for nearly two decades. After years of portraying the most beloved characters on the operatic stage, Mr. Aiken accepted the position of Executive Director of Opera Memphis in 1998, and was instrumental in creating more elaborate productions and overseeing the construction of the state-of-the-art Clark Opera Memphis Center. Steve and his wife, Janice, have no children, other than Zak and Rocky their rescue dogs.

Cara Schneider, Art Director
Ms. Schneider was invited to join Nashville Opera as company manager in 1995, after five years at Kentucky Opera. She has served the company in several capacities but now gets to focus on her passion--creating strong visuals for this gorgeous art form. Ms. Schneider has studied voice and enjoyed 20 years as a staff singer at various churches, most recently St. George’s Episcopal, Nashville. Her free-lance work through Carabella Art & Design includes CD art, handmade cards, vintage-fabric dolls, and floral design. Her photography for the Music City Jaguar Club newsletter was awarded first place honors from Jaguar Clubs of North America last year. Ms. Schneider holds a B. A. in English and Art from Centre College.

J. Randall Williams, Director of Production
Mr. Williams joined the Opera staff in September 1998. Before coming to Nashville he served as production manager with Des Moines Metro Opera and tour manager for OPERA Iowa since 1994. Prior to joining DMMO, Mr. Williams spent four years with Houston Grand Opera. He has also worked as production manager for Aspen Music Festival and as stage manager for such companies as Augusta Opera, Mobile Opera, San Diego Opera, Central City Opera, and Michigan Opera Theater. He holds a BFA in Technical Theater from West Virginia University.

Amy Tate Williams, Chorus Master/Accompanist
Ms. Tate Williams joined the Opera staff in September 1998. She holds degrees in piano performance from Western Kentucky University and Florida State University. She has been a free-lance coach and accompanist for Glimmerglass Opera, Nevada Opera, Augusta Opera, and Des Moines Metro Opera. Ms. Williams served as music director for OPERA Iowa for two seasons and trained for two years in the Houston Opera Studio.

Lori Eubank, Finance Director
Ms. Eubank has been with Nashville Opera for several years as the director of finance. Her experience includes two years with the State of Tennessee in the Department of Finance and Administration as an auditor and one year with both Ernst & Young and TrustMark Financial, Inc. as auditor and accountant. Ms. Eubank holds an Associate of Applied Science degree with a major in accounting from Volunteer State Community College.

Lynn Newcomb, Development Director
Ms. Newcomb returned to the Nashville Opera staff in September 1999. She is the former executive director of the Tennessee Dance Theatre in Nashville. Ms. Newcomb has a master's degree in arts management from the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University and a degree in theatre production from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She has worked with the Pittsburgh Public Theater, the Knoxville Museum of Art and Vanderbilt University. Ms. Newcomb is a panelist for the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Karen L. Haas, Director of Artistic Administration
Ms. Haas joined the Opera staff in May 2004, as Executive Associate. Prior to coming to Nashville, Ms. Haas spent five years with Nevada Opera in Reno, serving in various positions, most recently as Managing Director. Ms. Haas holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in drama/musical theatre from Boston Conservatory of Music. Her diverse background includes experience as a paralegal, and vocal performer, and she continues to maintain a private practice as an alternative healing practitioner.

Reed Hummell, Director of Marketing/Company Photographer
Mr. Hummell holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a major in Theatre Production. He began his marketing career shortly after graduation, and has been working in the field for more than twenty years. Mr. Hummell became interested in photography as a teenager, and has created images for KFC, Kroger, and SYSCO Corporation. His photographs have appeared in The Scene, The Tennessean, www.musicOMH.com, OPERA America's Newsline, and the upcoming WNPT documentary, The Making of Surrender Road.

Margaret Carpenter, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Carpenter joined the opera staff in September 2005. A long time resident of Nashville, her prior experience includes working as a loan officer at SunTrust Bank, and office manager/bookkeeper for many years with Carlo Sound, Inc., a nationally known touring sound company. She also caters small private parties.

Taylor Crow, Public Relations Manager
Ms. Crow joined the Nashville Opera staff in August of 2007. She has been involved in the performing arts in some capacity for years. She graduated high school a year early and moved to New York where she interned for the New York State Theater Institute; a non-profit educational theater. From there she moved to Nashville, TN and enrolled in Belmont University’s theater program. While there she designed costumes both for the Belmont Little Theater and professionally; working with The People’s Branch Theater, Actor’s Bridge Ensemble, and the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. In 2005 she received her Bachelors of Art from Belmont University. She has since set her sights on learning as much as she can about the administrative side of working with non-profit arts organizations and hopes to help the Nashville Opera grow and flourish for years to come.

Stuart Holt, Director of Education
Stuart Holt is joining the staff of Nashville Opera as Education Director. Stuart comes to us from Sarasota Opera, where he served as Director of Youth Opera Programs. During his tenure he produced two fully staged youth opera productions – featuring over 80 children, as well as planned and implemented the chorus’ appearance at the Cantare in Toscana, International Choral Festival in Italy. He previously served on the music faculty of both Florida State University and James Madison University. While at Florida State he directed the American premiere of Luciano Chailly's Procedura Penale. Stuart’s directing work outside the classroom has included How to Succeed in Business and Fuddy Meers, both for Tallahassee Little Theatre; La Traviata for Opera Del Sol; and Die Fledermaus for James Madison University. He holds a bachelors degree in music education from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN and a masters in opera production from Florida State University.

Justin Bumpus, Information Technology Manager
Justin Bumpus joined the Nashville Opera Association in early December 2007. He hold a degree in Computer Networking Systems from ITT Technical Institute where he will be continuing his education in Information Systems Security. Before joining the Nashville Opera Family Justin was a Database Administration Coordinator for a Medical Transcription Company in Franklin Tennessee. He is also very involved with people and has an extensive background in hospitality.

Andrea Smith, Development and Public Relations Assistant
Andrea Smith holds a bachelor’s degree of Arts Administration with a minor in Musicology from the University of Kentucky. While at college, Andrea was named the 2006/07 Miss University of Kentucky. She also joined Delta Delta Delta sorority where she held the offices of New Member Educator and Vice President of Chapter Development. She was named “Most Valuable Member” in 2007 and voted “Most Talented” and “Best Personality” out of 170 other members. She worked for the Singletary Center of Fine Arts planning and executing the “Turning the Corner” concert series. She was also an active member of the UK Choristers and Women’s Choir. In the summer of 2006 she discovered her passion for opera and working with the Nashville community when she served as an intern for Nashville Opera. Andrea was pleased to return to Nashville Opera as a full time staff member in March 2008.