David Gately joined the faculty of the Boston Conservatory in 2022 as associate professor of opera, having directed more than 300 productions for over 60 companies. He has been on the faculty of the Trentino Music Festival since 2013. Prior to this he was on the faculty at the Seagle Music Colony in Schroon Lake, New York, and led the opera program at the Brevard Music Center from 2008 to 2012. Prior to joining the faculty at Boston Conservatory, Gately served as the director of the opera studio at Texas Christian University. At TCU, under Gately’s leadership, two world-premiere operas were presented: Evan Mack and Joshua McGuire’s Yeltsin in Texas! and Zach Redler and Jerre Dye’s The Falling and the Rising. The latter won first place in its division at the National Opera Association’s 2017-2018 production competition.
Known for his vivid story-telling and his lively and clever productions, his recent accomplishments include a staging of his “Wild West” Don Paquale with San Diego Opera which the press called “fresh, amusing and energetic,” while his direction of Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Manitoba Opera was praised for his use of “nuance and creative physical comedy, resulting in a superb production brimming with energy.” Widely sought after across North America and beyond, highlights of recent seasons include his direction of L’Elisir d’Amore with Dallas Opera, Madama Butterfly with Seattle Opera, La Boheme with Florida Grand Opera, Die Zauberflote with Cincinnati Opera, A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Glimmerglass Opera, Falstaff with Opera Omaha, Rigoletto with Utah Opera, Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Colorado, Aida with Vancouver Opera, Orfeo ed Euridice with Boston Baroque, and Lysistrata with Fort Worth Opera.
For the Trentino Music Festival David has directed Ariadne auf Naxos, Carmen, Cosi fan tutte, Cendrillon, Giulio Cesare, Turn of the Screw, and the European Premiere of Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters.