ABOUT Jenny
Jennifer Rivera (Jenny) is a Grammy nominated opera singer turned arts administrator. Her opera career brought her to five continents where she won awards including the New York City Opera Debut Artist of the Year Award and the Helpmann Award (the Australian Tony Award)for Lead Performer in an opera. She has also been a voice professor, lecturer, and has given masterclasses throughout her career. She also wrote an award winning blog about her career and was an arts and culture contributer for The Huffington Post.
Her career in Arts Administration began as the Director of Development at the Center for Contemporary Opera, followed by a tenure at Long Beach Opera which began in Development, and led to 5 years as the CEO of the company. While CEO, Long Beach Opera presented multiple world premieres including one that went on to win a Pulitzer Prize, and brought in the single largest philanthropic gift in the company’s history. She sucessfully navigated the organization through a change in artistic leadership, the Covid 19 pandemic, a headquarter move, and created and funded many new engagement, civic and fundraising programs during her tenure.
Jenny now works in Los Angeles as part of the Advancement Team at the Music Center, where she serves as the organization’s Major Gifts Officer. The Music Center, a $70 million company, is one of the nation’s largest performing arts centers.
She also currently serves on the Board of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, where she is chair of the Placemaking Committee.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University and has a Master’s degree from The Juilliard School.
About Nico
Nicolás Bejarano (Nico) is a development professional and trumpet player. Although originally from Colombia, he is currently based in Los Angeles, California. Bejarano has served as the Director of Development at Long Beach Opera and American Youth Symphony and is a fundraising consultant for several arts organizations in Southern California. Mr. Bejarano also proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Advanced Musical Studies/Chosen Vale. He also hosts the Arts Salon Podcast, where he interviews thought leaders in the arts.
As an artist Bejarano is sought after as a new-music specialist and advocate. He has worked with innovative companies including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, WildUp, The Industry Productions, the Ojai Music Festival Orchestra, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Monday Evening Concerts’ ECHOI Ensemble, American Youth Symphony, the Martha Graham Dance Company to name a few. He has worked on projects for composers such as LaMonte Young, John Adams, David Rosenboom (REDCAT), Gabriella Smith, Ellen Reid, Chris Bowers, Nico Muhly, and Frederic Rzewsky to name a few.
Bejarano has presented masterclasses at the National University of Colombia, Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, and University of California San Diego for both trumpet players and composers and holds a BMUS from McGill University's Schulich School of Music and an MFA from the Herb Alpert School of Music at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).