I am a senior cultural executive and international leader with over 25 years of experience founding, directing and transforming cultural organisations across Europe and the United States. My career has been defined by building institutions of genuine public purpose from the ground up — securing government accreditation, mobilising public and private funding, forging international partnerships, and designing governance and compliance frameworks that make ambitious cultural programmes structurally resilient and financially sustainable.
Throughout the majority of my career, I have worked concurrently as both a senior arts executive and a professional performing artist — a dual trajectory that is rare at this level, and that has proven mutually transformative. My lived experience as a performing artist has deepened my understanding of artistic labour, cultural participation, and the conditions that allow creative work to flourish — and has shaped a leadership style that is as attentive to the human realities of cultural practice as it is to institutional strategy.
This blended experience has allowed me to build and lead institutions which lie at the intersection of artistic excellence, policy-adjacent practice, and operational accountability — translating cultural vision into durable systems capable of withstanding political, economic, and social pressure. My experience spans the full lifecycle of cultural institutions: from strategic conception and funding architecture through programme delivery, heritage stewardship, community engagement, and organisational transformation. What distinguishes my leadership is the combination of strategic reach and ground-level credibility. I have not administered cultural institutions from a distance — I have built them, shaped them, and ensured they endure.
Throughout the majority of my career, I have worked concurrently as both a senior arts executive and a professional performing artist — a dual trajectory that is rare at this level, and that has proven mutually transformative. My lived experience as a performing artist has deepened my understanding of artistic labour, cultural participation, and the conditions that allow creative work to flourish — and has shaped a leadership style that is as attentive to the human realities of cultural practice as it is to institutional strategy.
This blended experience has allowed me to build and lead institutions which lie at the intersection of artistic excellence, policy-adjacent practice, and operational accountability — translating cultural vision into durable systems capable of withstanding political, economic, and social pressure. My experience spans the full lifecycle of cultural institutions: from strategic conception and funding architecture through programme delivery, heritage stewardship, community engagement, and organisational transformation. What distinguishes my leadership is the combination of strategic reach and ground-level credibility. I have not administered cultural institutions from a distance — I have built them, shaped them, and ensured they endure.
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Production
& administration End-to-end leadership of large-scale cultural programmes — opera, festivals, concert series — spanning strategic planning, artistic administration, and on-the-ground operational delivery at national and international levels. |
Finance
& funding Full lifecycle financial management: planning, operations, reporting, and compliance. Mobilisation and stewardship of diverse funding ecosystems including EU and government grants, philanthropic investment, and institutional partnerships. |
Artistic planning
& casting Leadership in developing and implementing cultural policies, governance frameworks, and cross-border programmes aligned with international cultural conventions and sustainable development objectives. |
Recruitment
& management Recruitment, contracting, and management of diverse international teams spanning artists, conductors, orchestral musicians, creative and technical personnel, administrative staff, and volunteers. |
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International network
& representation Extensive networks across agencies, theatres, casting personnel, managers, festivals, government ministries, and industry leaders across Europe, the UK, and the United States. Senior-level representation at national and international fora. |
Organisational development
& transformation Construction of full administrative, operational, and production infrastructures from the ground up. Leadership of institutional transformation including change management, hybrid delivery, and government accreditation. |
Governance
& compliance Development of comprehensive compliance frameworks: safeguarding, EDI, equal pay, and anti-discriminatory practice. Public-facing advocacy and sector leadership on discrimination and cultural equity. |
Education
& community outreach Design and delivery of curricula, in-person and digital educational models, scholarship and tuition-free programmes, and structured mentorship pathways for artists from underrepresented communities. |
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
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FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
An organisation providing high-quality, accessible, affordable online and on-demand continued education for professional singers, facilitating the development of the complete artist. Berlin, Germany | online WEBSITE |
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FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
A highly intensive training program, currently in its 7th season, welcoming international singers and pianists, faculty members, a full orchestra, and production, tech and venue teams from over 30 countries. It consists of three modules running in parallel: full Wagner or Strauss, R. opera with orchestra, a Lieder Festival and Akademie, training and career module. The program is the only of its kind worldwide. Berlin, Germany WEBSITE |
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FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Festival de Ópera & Accademia Lanzarote was the first initiative of its kind on the Canary Islands, Spain. It was founded in 2022 in cooperation with the Lanzarote Ensemble Orchestra and Centro Insular de Enseñanzas Musicales (CIEM), and with the financial support of Centro de Arte, Cultura y Torismo Lanzarote (CACT). The program included two educational modules: a training and career module and a 6-concert festival at the UNESCO protected Jameos del Agua Auditorium. Lanzarote, Spain WEBSITE |
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EU LEADER
The largest North American publication for the vocal arts since the 1980s. CS Music publishes a quarterly printed magazine and releases a monthly online edition. It also produces an annual convention for the vocal arts, a competition and up to 6 panel auditions throughout the US and Europe. Classical Singer Magazine and Classical Singer Online United States WEBSITE |
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DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS & INDUSTRY AUDITIONS
The largest EU and US aggregator for opportunities in the classical vocal arts. The company produced a series of educational programs for opera singers produced in Berlin and taught by some of the leading names in opera today. Berlin, Germany; London, United Kingdom; Stockholm, Sweden |
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FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The first art song festival in Berlin, Germany, with full-length programming and a series of fully-sponsored masterclasses. The festival used concert spaces where classical music is not traditionally performed. Programming included 6 main stage festival concerts as well as 5 full days of masterclasses culminating in a young artist concert. Berlin, Germany |
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EU DIRECTOR OF CONTENT & DATA
Leading provider of entertainment metadata, content IDs, and data analytics for music, video (movies/TV), and sports Berlin, Germany |
PRODUCTION, CASTING & DIRECTING
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PRODUCER & CASTING DIRECTOR
Staged with orchestra performed in the Luisenkirche Grosser Sall, with a new reduced orchestration by Andrew McInness commissioned specifically for this production. NIKOLOVA-WYMA GbR Berlin, Germany |
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PRODUCER & CASTING DIRECTOR
Staged with orchestra performed in the Luisenkirche Grosser Sall, with a new reduced orchestration by Andrew McInness commissioned specifically for this production. NIKOLOVA-WYMA GbR Berlin, Germany |
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PRODUCER & CASTING DIRECTOR
Staged with orchestra performed in the Labsaal Alt-Lübars, with a reduced orchestration. NIKOLOVA-WYMA GbR Berlin, Germany |
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PRODUCER & CASTING DIRECTOR
Multi-media film of the full opera. NIKOLOVA-WYMA GbR online |
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PRODUCER & CASTING DIRECTOR
Multi-media production of scenes from the opera. NIKOLOVA-WYMA GbR online |
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PRODUCER & CASTING DIRECTOR
Staged with orchestra performed in the ballroom of the Stage-Factory Berlin. NIKOLOVA-WYMA GbR Berlin, Germany |
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PRODUCER & ARRANGER
Folk songs have always been the true expression of a culture. Often heard in female voices, describing the realities and aspirations of women. This collection of folk songs from around the world arranged for voice and steel drum, introduces unexpected sonic, rhythmic and linguistic characteristics as well as a narrative of profoundly human experiences. (World Premiere) DEUTSCHER MUSIKRAT Berlin, Germany |
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STAGE DIRECTOR & CASTING DIRECTOR
Full production with a band. DIE ETAGE Berlin, Germany |
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PRODUCER
Theatre piece for soprano, piano and two actors written and directed by Gidon Saks. The piece explores the triangulation in the relationship between Gustav, Alma and Anna von Mildenburg through Mahler's Rückert Lieder. The piece is written and conceived for spaces where opera is traditionally not performed and for audiences new to opera. (World Premiere) BERLINER OPERNVEREIN Berlin, Germany |
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PRODUCER
The first European chapter of the AIDS Quilt Songbook. Under the tutelage of Berliner Aids-hilfe e.V. - AIDS Quilt Songbook: German Edition (World Premiere) Berlin, Germany WEBSITE |
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PRODUCER & ARRANGER
Pathologies of the Image, a multi-media sound Installation by Andrés Galeano commissioned by Grimmuseum Berlin. (World Premiere) Berlin, Germany |
EDUCATION
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VOICE PEDAGOGUE & MASTERCLASS PRESENTER
Voice studio and masterclass presenter working with a wide spectrum of voices. Particularly adept at working with transgender voices and voices with complex landscape. |
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VOICE PEDAGOGUE & STAGE DIRECTOR
A state-accredited private college for professional training in musical theatre, contemporary dance, acting and physical theatre. Berlin, Germany |
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ASSISTANT STAGE DIRECTOR & COSTUME DESIGNER
A private research university founded in 1852. Medford, Massachusetts, USA |
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ASSISTANT, HEAD OF VOICE DEPARTMENT
An innovative conservatory focused on preparing musicians for diverse careers by blending elite performance training with practical skills for the modern world Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
CONSULTING
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PEER PANEL LONGLIST REVIEWER
The Arts Council Ireland is the national government agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. Their role is to advocate, advise, invest and work in partnership with others, to cultivate a vibrant arts environment at the heart of Irish society. WEBSITE |
OUTREACH & ADVOCACY
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Produced and hosted fully sponsored masterclasses for 23 transgender artists from around the globe led by Dr. Stephanie Weiss. The masterclass series was produced by Anastasia Inniss and Julie Wyma with the generous financial support of NATS Valley of the Sun Chapter, Medical Voice Center Hamburg, Sarah Stephens (Stephens Nicholson Artists Management), Anonymous Sponsor and Opera Programs Berlin.
session 1 | session 2 | session 3 | session 4 online WEBSITE |
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Virtual fundraising concert produced by Anastasia Inniss, Byron Knutson and Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler CoronaCare raising funds for students grossly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
WEBSITE |
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Virtual fundraising concert produced by Anastasia Inniss and Seth Carico fundraising for the most vulnerable population touched during the COVID-19 pandemic - at risk children in precarious economic circumstances.
Berlin, Germany WEBSITE |
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Ageism’s seed is based in white supremacy and paternalism. What sprouts from that seed is exclusion and discrimination based on socio-economic disadvantages, race and gender. Our panel discusses how ageism affects all corners of the industry as well as how to level the playing field.
Anastasia Inniss (host), Alaysha Fox, Carol Mastrodomenico, Francesca Mondanaro, Andrea Nwoke, Jeremy Osborne, Rosalind Plowright, Stephen Reineke, Tichina Vaughn Roundtable Panel Discussion online WEBSITE |
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Germany is a great place for opera - it holds 51% of the world’s opera theaters and is a popular choice for any singer wanting to embark on a singing career. But what is it like singing here while Black? Our panel discusses their experiences as professional opera singers in Germany.
Jeremy Osborne (host), Raehann Bryce-Davis, Leah Hawkins, Calvin Lee, Ronnita Miller, Chantale Nurse, Julius P Williams, III Roundtable Panel Discussion online WEBSITE |
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The challenges for singers of color have been much discussed and well-documented over the years. But the only way to affect real change is at the institutional level. Our panel of directors, conductors, casting directors/agents, and singers talk about how to shift the current paradigm towards complete diversity and inclusivity.
Jeremy Osborne (host), Jeremy Bines, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Kevin John Edusei, Byron Knutson, Leslie Kwan, Sarah Stephens, Stephanie Weiss, Melody Wilson Roundtable Panel Discussion online WEBSITE |
GRANTS & AWARDS
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Festival Grant
Centro de Arte, Cultura y Turismo Lanzarote, Spain |
Production Grant
Dezentrale Kulturarbeit Reinickendorf Kunst Berlin, Germany |
Two New Project Grants
Neue Start Kultur Deutscher Musikrat Nationwide, Germany |
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Scholarship recipient under the tutelage of Angelika Kirchschlager
Meisterklassen Gutenstein Gutenstein, Austria |
Janet Irving Award for Vocal Studies
Long School of Music of Bard College Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
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