Staff

Julia Aubrey, associate professor of music at the University of Mississippi, is Director of the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts since 2016, and served as Director of Opera Theatre in the Department of Music from 1995 – 2021.  In her role as Director of the Ford Center, Julia was a featured speaker for the North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents, a member of the South Arts Professional Development Advisory Committee, and a member of MS and TN Presenters, and the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. Julia served as president of the National Opera Association from 2012- 2014 and has held other offices in the organization: president-elect, vice-president of regions, and governor for the Southeast Region. Under her direction, the UM Opera Theatre placed first in national competitions and was selected for appearances at national conferences and regional festivals. Professor Aubrey served as the Guest Artist Opera Stage Director for the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska and the Quad City Mozart Festival, and associate artistic director of the Oxford Shakespeare Festival. Professor Aubrey has directed over 75 operas, operettas, and musicals.  She served as Artistic Director and Stage Director for the world premiere (Ford Center) and European premiere (Prague, Czech Republic) of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The process of producing this new American opera was featured in two documentaries produced by MPB and Southern Documentary. Professor Aubrey earned a master of music in vocal performance and a master of arts in theatre from the University of Missouri – Columbia.