San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock

The Wagner Society Welcomes Matthew Shilvock, General Director of the San Francisco Opera

JCC-SF  –  3200 California Street, San Francicso, CA 2nd Floor Gallanter Hall

Matthew Shilvock brings a passion for opera and a wealth of experience to the post of General Director of San Francisco. He began his career with the arts service organization Opera America; in 2003, he joined Houston Grand Opera as liaison to Gockley, then Houston’s general director. In San Francisco, Shilvock served as general director’s associate, director of new initiatives and assistant general director before his 2005 elevation to associate general director. But his first experience was as a San Francisco Opera audience member — in 2002, he attended a performance of Messiaen’s “St. Francois d’Assise” and was “awestruck” by the beauty of the War Memorial Opera House.

His work has since given him an insider’s knowledge of the organization’s workings. Shilvock has been involved in more than 100 S.F. Opera productions during the last decade. Collaborating with singers, staff, directors and production teams, he said, has given him an understanding of “all the moving parts” essential to bringing opera to the stage.

Matthew Shilvock was born in Kidderminster, England. He studied music performance and history, reading music at Christ Church, Oxford University. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a specialization in nonprofit administration. Shilvock resides in Marin County with his wife Kate and their two children.