David O'Dell serves as General Director of Charlottesville Opera, responsible for all artistic and administrative functions for the company.

Prior to coming to Charlottesville, he served as General Director of Amarillo Opera, Executive Director of San Antonio Opera, Director of Development for the Wisconsin Historical Foundation and as an independent arts and education consultant.

As General Director/CEO of Opera for the Young, he helped establish the company as a leader in opera for young audiences in North America. During his tenure, the company was regularly recognized by grants from the NEA.

He co-founded The Magnolia Opera Festival in Chapel Hill and became General Director of Triangle Opera in Raleigh-Durham when the two companies merged.

He began his career in the arts as an apprentice artist at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois. Following apprenticeships in Santa Fe and Lake George, he spent time as a Resident Artist with Wisconsin Opera Theatre and The North Carolina Opera.

He performed with The Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, San Francisco Opera, Oakland Opera, Opera Carolina and Florentine Opera.

Musical theatre audiences have seen his work at The Municipal (MUNY) Opera in St. Louis, The North Carolina Theatre, and in national tours of The Music Man and Man of La Mancha. New York audiences have seen him in Me and My Girl.

He is a member of OPERA America, Actor’s Equity Association, The American Guild of Musical Artists, The Association of Fundraising Professionals and Rotary International. He has served as a panelist and presenter for OPERA America, The National Opera Association and The Association of Fundraising Professionals. He helped facilitate caucuses and Town Hall meetings at the 2008 National Performing Arts Convention in Denver and served as a U.S. delegate to the 2016 Rotary International Convention in Seoul, South Korea.

A native of St. Louis, Mr. O'Dell is a summa cum laude graduate in Business Management from Concordia University Wisconsin and holds a Certificate in Non-profit Management from Duke University.