QSO’s Executive Director

Deborah Surdi is an experienced executive in the music and concert presenting business. For the bulk of her career she held various positions at BMG Classics and Sony Classical (currently Sony Music Entertainment), where she  displayed strengths in recording project planning, supervision and logistics, artist signings and negotiations, marketing and product management. Her last position there was Vice President of Artists and Repertoire.   While there, she worked closely with some of the world’s greatest artists, performers and arts organizations in the classical, musical theater and cross-over genres.  As Executive Director of The Opera Orchestra of New York she presented rarely performed operas in concert at Carnegie and Avery Fisher Hall, with both world-renowned opera singers and newly discovered talent who participate in their Young Artists Program.  Deborah was honored to work with Barbara Cook as her Production and Business Manager. She has also worked as fundraising and administrative consultant for the Martina Arroyo Foundation, Encompass New Opera Theatre, Teatro Nuovo, among others.  Additionally, Deborah is a professionally trained soprano and has been involved in opera, cabaret and regional theatre as a performer, director, voice teacher and coach.