James Haffner
James Haffner is an Associate Professor of Opera at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music. His production of Rossini's La Cenerentola took first place in the 2001 National Opera Association Production Competition and was a finalist both at the regional and national levels in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. La Cenerentola holds the distinction of being the first opera to be allowed to perform in the KC/ACTF national festival. His work has been recognized regularly by the KC-ACTF with an encore production of his reworking of Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill and the west coast premiere of Glen Roven's musical Heart's Desire. Additional credits include the German premiere of Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day; Das Mahagonny Songspiel, which was presented as part of the premiere Brecht Fest at the Berliner Ensemble; and Dido and Aeneas with the Museumsinsel Fest, Berlin. James is the Producing Artistic Director of the Stockton Opera Association and has worked with both the Bay View and Bear Valley Music Festivals. He is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors' Lab (and was quoted in American Theatre's 2002 coverage of the event), sat on the National Opera Association Board of Directors and has served as a consultant with Opera America. Professor Haffner has taught at the Technische Universität, Berlin; stateside, he has served on the faculties of the University of Kentucky-Lexington, Miami University (OH), Webster University and the California State University, Fullerton.
At the Conservatory, Professor Haffner teaches opera workshop, introduction to lyric diction, and opera production. He is also the stage directer for all opera and musical theater productions and serves as an instructor at the Pacific Opera Institute.
Conservatory of Music
University of the Pacific
3601 Pacific Avenue
Stockton, CA 95211
209.946.2832
James Haffner