Casey Robards

Biography

Currently: Univ of Illinois, Ensemble Concept 21
Past positions at Indiana Univ, Oberlin Conservatory, Central Michigan University
Opera, art song, music theatre, brass, wind, string, spirituals, African-American composers, gospel.

Maestra Casey Robards (Suh Jung Ahn) is a conductor and music director whose work has been seen throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, South America, and Asia. Robards has worked with a broad range of opera companies, festivals, and producing organizations, including Santa Fe Opera, Kentucky Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Indianapolis Opera, New Orleans Opera, Opera Columbus, Soo Opera, El Paso Opera, South Bend Lyric Opera, and the Bay View Music Festival, where she worked for seventeen seasons.

Known for her collaborative leadership, stylistic range, and intimate understanding of both singers and instrumentalists, Maestra Robards’ recent and upcoming repertoire includes productions of Le nozze di Figaro, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Pagliacci, Lucia di Lammermoor, Carmen, La traviata, La bohème, Die Zauberflöte, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, Susannah, Three Decembers, Little Women, Bon Appétit, and the Afro-surrealist rock opera Water Riot in Beta, in addition to numerous other contemporary and newly composed works.

Robards is keenly interested in the decolonization of the self as it relates to identity as well as being a classically trained musician. As a Korean American adoptee, her experience of being "in-between" informs her artistic practice and interests. Her personal mission is to create meaningful projects and performances that impact society, inspire community, and embody deep collaboration and artistic integrity.