Our People
Dr. Debra Lynn
Executive and Artistic Director
Dr. Debra J. Lynn (she/her) is co-founder of Opera Today! where she serves as both Executive and Artistic Director for the company. As Executive Director, she oversees all operations within the company on both the business and the creative side. She also works tirelessly on fund-raising and submitting grant proposals. As Artistic Director, she opens the creative floodgates in her brain to set in motion the innovative, collaborative, and unique programs and performances produced by Opera Today! She conducts the pit orchestra for most performances, and she stage directs several shows each year as well.
Debra has 30+ years' experience in academia as a voice and conducting pedagogue, opera director, and ensemble conductor. She has stood on some of the most prestigious podiums in the world including Sacred Heart Basilica at Notre Dame University, Walt Disney World, the Vatican in Rome, the basilicas of San Marco in Venice and Saint Frances of Assisi in Italy, appearances in London and Austria, and multiple performances at Carnegie Hall in New York. She has worked with Metropolitan Opera legends Nicholas DiVirgilio and Mignon Dunn as well as Kathleen Smith Belcher from the MET’s current roster of stage directors.
As a composer, Dr. Lynn writes both instrumental and vocal music and has received several commissions including Lily and Plowshares Foundation requests. She particularly enjoys collaborative projects and has most recently worked with Nathan Granner (tenor), Jamie Chamberlin (soprano), Daniel Belcher (Grammy-winning, baritone), Farrell Vernon (saxophone), and Elizabeth Mikautadze (choreographer) as well as composers Olav Luksengård Mjelva, Jon Silpayamanant, Dominique Le Gendre and Stewart Copeland (founder and drummer of The Police). Debra is married to cellist, Robert Lynn. They reside in North Manchester, Indiana where they raised four offspring and are currently owned by two cats.
Ian Williams
Development Associate
Ian Williams supports Opera Today! as Development Associate. He brings several years of non-profit work in the NE Indiana region, including several arts organizations and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He also co-founded two "Opera on Tap" chapters: one in Fort Wayne (now Fortissimo Opera), and one in South Bend.
At Opera Today!, Ian partners closely with Executive Director, Debra Lynn to build relationships with individual donors and corporate partners in order to secure the sustainability of the company. Ian helps expand our donor base and ensure that fundraising aligns with Opera Today's mission, values, and programming vision. He also plans events and community engagement projects. Ian is committed to upholding ethical fundraising standards, confidentiality, and donor intent.
Ian is also a professional singer: Ian Michael, bass baritone. He has performed as a soloist in concerts throughout northern Indiana, including Handel’s Messiah, the Mozart Requiem, Charpentier's Te Deum, and Shawn E. Okpebholo’s Songs in Flight. His theatrical credits include Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime: The Musical, Drifter/Ensemble in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, and Count Ceprano in Rigoletto. He is also a three-time finalist of the Lotte Lenya Competition. Ian performs regularly with the South Bend Lyric Opera and the Indianapolis Opera.
About his work at Opera Today!, Ian says: "I am so thrilled to join the Opera Today! team as a Hoosier native. I grew up in Indianapolis as a theatre kid but didn't really explore opera until high school. I moved to Fort Wayne in 2015 and lived there for eight years, learning how to build performing opportunities in a smaller community. Opera is an art form that reflects the human condition and showcases the wonderful abilities the human voice can achieve. There is no other art form like it. My mission is to ensure that opera is thriving in Indiana, and that starts here."
Michael is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BMA in Voice Performance and Bachelor of Theatre Arts. In addition to performing, he has a passion for education and community outreach. He chairs the Community Engagement and Education committee for South Bend Lyric Opera and owns the Ian Michael Vocal Studio. All these qualifications combine to make Ian a wonderful addition to the Opera Today! team.
Mason Kniola
Chorus Director
Mason Kniola (he/him) is the Chorus Master for Opera Today! where he helps prepare choruses of all different sizes in each production. Anything from running evening rehearsals to prompting, Mason holds multiple roles to help assist the production manager and artistic director.
Mason’s passion for opera and choral ensembles started while studying voice at Manchester University where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree. Mason has both performed and assisted under Debra Lynn in such productions as Strawberry Fields and Gianni Schicchi. He deepened his passion at Butler University where he obtained his Master’s degree in choral conducting. In addition to singing, Mason also has played tuba in a variety ensembles adding a unique perspective to the choral community.
Currently, Mason is a private lesson teacher at the Bach to Rock music school, as well as a staff singer at Tabernacle Presbyterian. Outside of music, Mason enjoys biking, thrifting, coffee, listening to albums, and playing games with friends. Mason currently resides in Indianapolis.
Robert Bucher
Production Manager
Robert Bucher (he/him) is the Production Manager for Opera Today!, where he expertly manages the production and delivery of captivating opera content. In this role, Robert oversees production schedules, coordinates with creative teams and ensures top-notch quality in all aspects of each production.
In addition to his current role, Robert has a rich background in both arts and hospitality. He previously worked as a Concierge at Walt Disney World Resorts, where he provided exceptional guest services and crafted memorable experiences for visitors from around the globe. Robert’s leadership experience includes serving as Executive Director of the Warsaw Performing Arts Center, where he directed strategic operations and programming. He has also worked as a Talent Coordinator for the Honeywell Foundation in Wabash, IN. His extensive background includes roles such as President of the Manchester Symphony Society, where he guided the organization through significant growth, and Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Summit City Chorus, where he improved the chorus’s public visibility and engagement.
Outside of work, Robert enjoys camping, singing, and spending time with friends and family. These activities provide him with creative inspiration and a well-rounded perspective, enriching his approach to his professional roles.
Robert has assisted Debra Lynn as Production Manager for notable projects including The Sound of Music, 1776, and The Mikado. As a team, Robert and Debra complement one another and are committed to maintaining a constructive and positive atmosphere in rehearsals and on set.