# Charles MacKay > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Charles_MacKay > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Charles_MacKay.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_MacKay > Source revision: 1297912740 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American arts administrator (born 1950)}} {{other people|Charles Mackay}} '''Charles MacKay''' (born May 1950, [Albuquerque](/source/Albuquerque), [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico)) is an American arts administrator, known for leadership roles at the [Santa Fe Opera](/source/Santa_Fe_Opera), [Opera Theatre of Saint Louis](/source/Opera_Theatre_of_Saint_Louis), and [Spoleto Festival USA](/source/Spoleto_Festival_USA)/[Festival of Two Worlds](/source/Festival_of_Two_Worlds). ==Early experience== MacKay is the son of John and Margaret MacKay and an alumnus of [Santa Fe High School](/source/Santa_Fe_High_School_(New_Mexico)) and of the [University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota). He played French horn in the Santa Fe Symphony, earning the first chair position while still in high school, and joined the orchestra of the [Santa Fe Opera](/source/Santa_Fe_Opera) (SFO) at age 18. He was a volunteer with Santa Fe Opera at age 13 and began to work in administrative capacities with SFO at age 18, beginning with a job as the orchestra "pit boy."{{cite news | url=https://www.operaamerica.org/industry-resources/2022/oral-history-project/an-oral-history-with-charles-mackay/ | title=An oral history with Charles MacKay | work=Opera America | author=Marc A. Scorca | date=4 November 2019| accessdate=7 November 2024}} He worked at SFO as an orchestra librarian,{{cite journal | url=http://www.metoperafamily.org/operanews/issue/article.aspx?id=4910&issueID=322 | last=Driscoll | first=F. Paul | title=Hail and Farewell | journal=Opera News | volume=72 | issue=12 | date=June 2008 | accessdate=9 August 2008}} in the business office, and painting stage scenery.Miller, Sarah Bryan, "Opera Theatre's Charles MacKay will take the helm at Santa Fe Opera". ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', 9 November 2007. MacKay also held several administrative positions with SFO, including box office manager, assistant orchestra manager, and business manager, the last position for 4 years.{{cite news | url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorthernNM/Opera_taps_native_son_as_director | title=Opera taps native son as director | work=Santa Fe New Mexican | author=Craig Smith | date=2007-11-10 | accessdate=2007-12-08}}{{cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/7341.html | title=Santa Fe Opera Appoints New General Director | work=Playbill Arts | author=Matthew Westphal | date=2007-11-09 | accessdate=2007-12-08}} ==Spoleto Festival== After leaving Santa Fe, his other administrative positions include a 6-year tenure as director of finance and administration for the [Spoleto Festival USA](/source/Spoleto_Festival_USA), from 1978 to 1984. For 5 years, he was the manager for the American artists at the [Festival of Two Worlds](/source/Festival_of_Two_Worlds) in [Spoleto](/source/Spoleto), [Italy](/source/Italy). ==Opera Theatre of Saint Louis== In 1984, MacKay became executive director of [Opera Theatre of Saint Louis](/source/Opera_Theatre_of_Saint_Louis) (OTSL), recruited to the post by OTSL's first general director [Richard Gaddes](/source/Richard_Gaddes). In 1985, MacKay was named OTSL's second general director. During his tenure, MacKay presided over the growth of OTSL's endowment from US$682,000 to $18 million and maintained the company's record of never posting a deficit. He also raised funds for the construction of the Sally S. Levy Opera Center, the company's first permanent administrative facility, which was completed in 2006. ==Return to Santa Fe== In November 2007, SFO named MacKay as its third general director, succeeding [Richard Gaddes](/source/Richard_Gaddes) and [John Crosby](/source/John_Crosby_(conductor)). He concluded his OTSL tenure on 30 September 2008, and began his tenure as SFO general director on 1 October of that year. His immediate challenges were financial, in the wake of the [2008 financial crisis.](/source/2008_financial_crisis.){{cite news | url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/charles-mackay-will-exit-as-head-of-santa-fe-opera/article_d6196f00-7ed9-11e7-a56b-cbc868e03422.html | title=Charles MacKay will exit as head of Santa Fe Opera | work=Santa Fe New Mexican | author=James M Keller | date=2017-08-11 | accessdate=2017-08-14}} During his tenure, MacKay programmed several operas in their first stagings at Santa Fe Opera, including ''[The Tales of Hoffmann](/source/The_Tales_of_Hoffmann)'' (2010), ''[Faust](/source/Faust_(opera))'' (2011), and in 2012 alone, ''[The Pearl Fishers](/source/The_Pearl_Fishers)'', Rossini's ''[Maometto II](/source/Maometto_II)'' (in a new [critical edition](/source/Critical_edition_(opera))), and [Karol Szymanowski](/source/Karol_Szymanowski)'s ''[King Roger](/source/King_Roger_(opera))''. In 2013, Rossini's ''[La donna del lago](/source/La_donna_del_lago)'' received its Santa Fe premiere in a co-production with the [Metropolitan Opera](/source/Metropolitan_Opera). The 2014 season saw the first Santa Fe production of Beethoven's ''[Fidelio](/source/Fidelio)''. Additionally, MacKay's tenure has been characterized by working in collaboration with several opera companies across the United States on co-productions, some of which have been US or world premieres of new operas. In addition to the Met, these companies have included [Minnesota Opera](/source/Minnesota_Opera) (Strauss' ''Arabella'' in 2012) and [Opera Philadelphia](/source/Opera_Philadelphia) (the Morrison / Cox ''[Oscar](/source/Oscar_(opera))'' in 2013.) SFO presented five world premieres during MacKay's tenure, including ''[Cold Mountain](/source/Cold_Mountain_(opera))'' by [Jennifer Higdon](/source/Jennifer_Higdon) and [Gene Scheer](/source/Gene_Scheer) (2015) and ''[The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs](/source/The_(R)evolution_of_Steve_Jobs)'' by [Mason Bates](/source/Mason_Bates) and [Mark Campbell (librettist)](/source/Mark_Campbell_(librettist)) (2018). MacKay also appointed [Frédéric Chaslin](/source/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Chaslin) and [Harry Bicket](/source/Harry_Bicket) successively as chief conductors of the company. In August 2017, Santa Fe Opera announced MacKay's intention to step down as its general director after the 2018 season.{{cite news | url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/opera/looking-forward-looking-back-charles-mackay-prepares-his-exit-from-santa-fe-opera/article_dcb2551b-2304-5d3d-91d9-bcbb3b71413a.html | title=Looking forward, looking back: Charles MacKay prepares his exit from Santa Fe Opera | work=Santa Fe New Mexican | author=James M. Keller | date=2017-08-21 | accessdate=2023-12-24}} == Arrest == On March 21, 2025, MacKay was arrested in [Powell, Wyoming](/source/Powell%2C_Wyoming), for soliciting two teenage boys for sex. He was initially charged with breach of peace, but prosecutors later filed four felony charges, including sexual exploitation of a minor. MacKay was released on a $35,000 bond, with a preliminary hearing set for April 2. A spokesperson stated that MacKay was complying fully with the legal process and that he had been facing unspecified serious health issues.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=C.J. |date=March 27, 2025 |title=New Mexico man alleged to have propositioned Powell teens |url=https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/new-mexico-man-alleged-to-have-propositioned-powell-teens,160902 |access-date=March 31, 2025 |work=Powell Tribune |location=Powell, Wyoming |page=1 |volume=116 |issue=25}} == Other achievements == MacKay is a 1997 recipient of the Arts Management Career Service Award. He has served as chairman of the board of [Opera America](/source/Opera_America) since 2004, and concluded his tenure in that post in June 2008. Other board affiliations include the [Sullivan Foundation](/source/Sullivan_Foundation){{cite web | url=https://www.sullivanfoundation.org/foundation.html | title=William Matheus Sullivan Foundation | publisher=Sullivan Foundation | accessdate=2024-11-07}} and the Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation.{{cite web | url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/850435024 | title=ProPublica: Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation | publisher=ProPublica | accessdate=2024-11-07}} He was awarded honorary degrees (Doctor of Music) from the [University of Missouri–St. Louis](/source/University_of_Missouri%E2%80%93St._Louis) (1996){{cite web | url=https://www.umsl.edu/externalrelations/honoraryawardnominations/pasthonorarydegrees.html | title=UMSL Past Honorary Degree Recipients | publisher=UMSL | accessdate=2019-11-07}} and from [Indiana University](/source/Indiana_University) (2018).{{cite web | url=https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=8754 | title=Indiana University Honors and Awards | publisher=Indiana University | accessdate=2019-01-28}} In 2022, MacKay was inducted into the OPERA America Opera Hall of Fame.{{cite news | url=https://operawire.com/opera-america-announces-2022-opera-hall-of-fame-inductees-and-national-opera-trustee-recognition-award-recipients/ | title=OPERA America Announces 2022 Opera Hall of Fame Inductees and National Opera Trustee Recognition Award Recipients | work=OperaWire | author=Chris Ruel | date=9 December 2021| accessdate=7 November 2024}} ==References== ;Notes {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.operatoday.com/content/2007/12/polish_not_chan.php J.A. Van Sant, " 'Polish' Not Change for Santa Fe Opera". ''Opera Today'' blog entry, 27 December 2007.] {{s-start}} {{s-culture}} {{succession box | title=[General Director, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis](/source/Opera_Theatre_of_Saint_Louis) | before=[Richard Gaddes](/source/Richard_Gaddes) | years=1985–2008 | after=Timothy O'Leary}} {{succession box | title=[General Director, Santa Fe Opera](/source/Santa_Fe_Opera) | before=Richard Gaddes | years=2008–2018 | after=Robert K. Meya}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mackay, Charles}} Category:1950 births Category:American opera managers Category:Living people Category:People from Santa Fe, New Mexico Category:People from Albuquerque, New Mexico Category:University of Minnesota alumni --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Charles MacKay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_MacKay) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_MacKay?action=history)). 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