General Director and CEO, Virginia Opera
B.A., Music Education, 1991
After receiving her degree from St. Cloud State, Peggy Kriha Dye pursued her graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard Opera Center. As a performer (soprano), she commanded over 100 of the world's stages in over 40 productions from 1992 to 2017, before turning her focus to her distinguished administrative career with Opera Columbus. In addition to her former oversight there, she continues to serve on the Board of Trustees of Opera America and the Women’s Opera Network and is past recipient of such accolades as Musical America’s 2018 Professionals of the Year/Movers and Shapers Edition award.
In 2020 she was named the general director and CEO of Virginia Opera, the official opera company of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"The memories I cherish the most are the evenings in the music building in the practice room. There were some serious musicians that would practice at night – a pianist, string bass and French horn. These were my people and that was my place to learn and make mistakes. I would go at odd hours to practice and find the recital hall open and I’d have it all to myself. It was in those times that I fell in love with opera." - Peggy Kriha Dye '91
STORY: Virginia Opera Announces New General Director and CEO