Joshua Borths

Learn about Opera Classroom's Founder

Joshua Borths is a stage director, writer, educator, and administrator with over a decade of experience in the opera industry.

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Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Borths is currently the Resident Scholar of Virginia Opera and the Preview Lecturer of Des Moines Metro Opera. Borths comes to Virginia after having served as the Director of Opera & Musical Theater and Professor of Music History at Capital University in Columbus, OH and as Director of Education at Arizona Opera. His children's opera adaptations have been seen by hundreds of thousands of students across the country, and he is a frequent guest lecturer and guest stage director.

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At Capital University, Borths produced and managed all of the opera and musical theatre programming while also serving as the Professor of Music History. Additionally, he created a joint Resident Artist Program with Opera Columbus creating innovative programming for both institutions. With Arizona Opera, Borths more than doubled the reach and scope of department through innovative programming and cultural engagement. By the end of his tenure, the Department of Education reached 70,000 people annually. 

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Borths has given hundreds of lectures on opera, hosted podcasts, and interviewed illustrious artists including Jake Heggie, Gregory Spears, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Jane Smiley. 

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As an educator, Borths has taught at Shenandoah University, been a Visiting Professor at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), directed Maryland Opera Studio, and was a guest panelist at the Opera America Conference. He collaborated with TED Ed on their first opera resources and was featured in Opera News for his innovative approach to opera education.