The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) announces that Executive Director, Stephen Beaudoin, will leave his position January 19, 2024 to accept a new position as President and CEO of The Music School of Delaware.
Since joining SOPAC, Beaudoin has collaborated with staff, volunteers, board, and artists to fulfill SOPAC’s mission. He brought his passion and energy to articulating a vision, strategy, and goals for SOPAC. And he engaged community leaders and supporters to strengthen SOPAC’s relationships with them.
Focusing on expanding and diversifying SOPAC’s programming, he created SOPAC’s Creative Community Brain Trust. Beaudoin broadened SOPAC’s Mainstage and Loft programs to encompass more diverse representation, artistic disciplines, and forms, including the introduction of new series, such as New Voices, New Visions; Broadway in Concert; Ladies of Laughter, What Matters Now?, and Healing Sounds in the Loft; Blues, Roots & BBQ; and Jammin’ in the Loft.
SOPAC presented a range of exceptional artists under Beaudoin’s leadership, which included Grammy nominee Emily King; singer-songwriter Eleri Ward; classical crossover ensemble Sons of Serendip; vocalist Jimmie Herrod; Afro-Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martínez; and SOMA backStage Reading Series developing new works in collaboration with SOMA Stage.
Beaudoin has a deep and long history in performing arts management; prior to joining SOPAC, he held leadership positions with The Washington Chorus, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and PHAME in Portland, Oregon.
SOPAC’s Board Chair, Douglas Newman stated, “During his tenure at SOPAC, Stephen demonstrated acumen as a community ambassador and performing arts management leader. SOPAC’s Board of Governors thanks him for his dedicated service and wishes him success in his next endeavor.”
SOPAC’s Board has initiated a search committee to lead the recruitment process for a new Executive Director. In the interim, Mr. Newman will oversee SOPAC’s day-to-day operations.