Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 31, 1994                   TAG: 9411030045
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

OPERA ROANOKE NAMES NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR

Slough, who holds an MFA degree in arts administration from Virginia Tech, has worked in marketing, public relations and administration with theaters in the Atlanta area. Her duties at the opera will include fund-raising and administration.

Her position replaces that of Judy Clark, the opera's former executive director. Clark left in July, saying the job had exhausted her.

Unlike Clark, however, Slough will be ultimately responsible to Craig Fields - who was named the opera's first general director last summer. Fields, who also is an associate professor of music at Virginia Tech, now has ultimate authority over both the opera's artistic and administrative sides.

The opera's current artistic director, Victoria Bond, leaves that position at the end of December. Fields said the position will be phased out.

Bond, who is ending her stewardship of the Roanoke Symphony as well after this season, will still serve as music director in Opera Roanoke's performance of her own opera, "Travels," in the spring.

Fields said the changing job descriptions follow a consultant's study last spring that recommended oversite of the administrative and artistic functions of the opera be combined in one person. Fields is now that person.

Slough, who is a graduate of Roanoke College, becomes one of three full-time staffers at the opera. The other two are Jeff Walker, marketing and production manager, and Lynda Williams, finance manager.