Praise
Jo Ann Kulesza brings her considerable knowledge, experience and artistry when she conducts an opera, providing an ideal balance between the artistic demands of the music and the needs and capabilities of the singer. She has achieved this the "old fashioned way", namely by being an excellent pianist and opera coach, then perfecting her craft by preparing and conducting opera choruses.
I have seen her conduct and have sung under her baton. She is that rare conductor who learned her business from the ground up. In short, she is one fine conductor who goes about her work with consummate professionalism. Any opera house would be lucky to have her.
Dominic Cossa
Metropolitan Opera House
New York City Opera
San Francisco Opera
Jo Ann is brilliant in many different ways. She is a wonderful conductor, excellent coach, a remarkable scholar and knows more about opera than many others combined. A significant addition to the roster of leading opera conductors!
Gustav Meier
Conductor
"Jo Ann Kulesza has an unerring musical instinct that results in natural, unaffected, and compelling music making. She communicates "with" her musicians and not just "to" them. She both leads securely and yet remains collaborative in the best sense."
Kate Tamarkin
Conductor
JoAnn has a fierce sense of detail balanced by a true joy for the music and and the musician. Her keen awareness of the humanity behind the notes on the page has made our collaborations, both on contemporary scores and standard repertoire, so fulfilling.
Garnett Bruce
Stage Director Artistic Advisor
Opera Omaha
