Detroit Opera

Arthur White is Detroit Opera’s Director of External Affairs. He has worked in multiple aspects of opera as a singer, manager, and community leader. In addition to having sung in several productions at MOT and with all the professional opera companies in Chicago, he has spent the last 20 years in artist management, the marketing of operatic productions, and as an impresario. He has produced and presented artists in concert at venues across the United States including Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Arthur originally joined Detroit Opera—then called Michigan Opera Theatre— in 2013, tasked with increasing community engagement. During this time he created its Opera Clubs, where opera singers give free community performances throughout Metro Detroit, followed by lectures of Detroit Opera’s upcoming operas. Arthur’s efforts were recognized by Opera America in 2015 as an example of successful grassroots engagement in the United States.

Outside of opera, he has served as the personal manager of Grammy Award-winning singer William Warfield and legendary folk singer Odetta. He also produced baritone Robert Sims’ recital in the new and recently opened Zankel Hall in Carnegie Hall and managed his second appearance for Carnegie Hall in Jessye Norman’s “Honor” in 2009.