Kelly Tweeddaleis Seattle Opera’s Executive Director.  She plays a key role in organizing and supervising the Opera’s daily operations, in generating and overseeing the company’s budgets, and in developing and implementing the Opera’s long-range strategic plan.  She is overseeing Seattle Opera’s future development project—consolidating the company’s operations including administrative, rehearsal, production, educational, technical support, costume and scenic assembly spaces—into one building adjacent to its performance hall. 

Tweeddale previously served as the company’s administrative director since January, 2003, and prior to that she held the position of marketing and communications director.  As marketing director, she led the company in the upgrade of its ticketing, fundraising, and customer service software and fulfilled a leadership role in the building of Seattle Opera's new performance venue, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, which opened in June 2003. 

Tweeddale has been an instructor for the University of Washington’s Certificate Program, teaching Marketing and Public Relations in the Arts, and previously worked for Seattle Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra.  She plays a significant role on a number of boards in the arts community:  she serves on the Burke Museum’s Association Board; has chaired the   Board for Tessitura Network, a nonprofit dedicated to software development and support for the performing arts sector; and is a member of the oversight committee for Project Audience, a collaborative community looking to standardize and enhance audience engagement in the arts through technology and practice.  Tweeddale also sits on the Steering Committee of the Prosperity Partnership, an initiative which is currently looking at the role the arts play in the Puget Sound region. 

Tweeddale has spent the last 25 years of her career in the performing arts with a focus on developing new audiences, managing major transitions, and increasing earned revenues.