Our Team
Kathryn Frady | Interim General Director
Kathryn Frady has a wealth of opera experience from performing, directing, producing, teaching, and consulting. Frady continues to be a sought out soprano and director performing nationally and internationally to critical acclaim most recently working at companies such as Tulsa Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, and Mobile Opera. She began her work as an arts administrator as the Founder of Marble City Opera where she has been the Executive Artistic Director for 12 years. During her tenure at Marble City Opera she built the company from the ground up using ground breaking innovative performances and community-centric fundraising practices while focusing on providing opportunities for emerging artists. Creating intimate and accessible opera productions by producing new American opera and relevant performances of traditional operas in unique venues, Frady has been making opera inclusive and accessible since 2013. Within a very short amount of time, Frady has garnered community and industry acclaim through her entrepreneurial spirit and artistic vision for Marble City Opera, with ten Marble City Opera productions named Most Memorable Opera or Music Performance of their year. In 2016, Frady was named one of Ten Women in Knoxville who Make a Difference by The Knoxville Mercury, and recognized as a Trailblazer in 2019 by A Step Ahead Foundation of East Tennessee.
Frady was also the General Director & CEO of Opéra Louisiane from 2022-2024. During her tenure with Opéra Louisiane, Frady made a positive impact on the organization, steering it through a period of growth and artistic innovation. Under Frady's leadership, Opéra Louisiane achieved important milestones, including the introduction of critically acclaimed productions such as the world premiere of The Christmas Spider by Clint Borzoni and John de los Santos, and bringing lesser-known operas such as Saint-Saëns’ Hell’s Bell to site-specific locations including the Old State Capitol. Frady expanded the Young People’s Opera Program into more elementary schools throughout the city bringing opera to more than 5,000 children. Her work with grant writing and donor engagement also helped her successfully guide the organization’s budget coming out of the COVID pandemic.
Kathryn has a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of North Texas, Certificates in Executive Women in Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University and a Fundraising Management Certificate from Boston University. Kathryn is an alumni of Opera America's prestigious Leadership Intensive.
Eiki Isomura | Music Director
Eiki Isomura previously served as Artistic and Interim General Director at Opera in the Heights, where he has led over 40 opera productions, drawing consistent praise for elevating the company's performance standard. Upcoming and recent conducting engagements include debuts with Anchorage Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Opera Santa Barbara, Opera Orlando, and Opera Grand Rapids. Prior to his time at OH, Isomura served on the music staff of HGOco, preparing the world premieres of numerous chamber operas for Houston Grand Opera. His educational activities have included work with Opera in the Ozarks, Arizona Opera, Lone Star College, and Temple University. In addition to his work as conductor and producer, Isomura holds a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the University of Michigan
Coral Longoria | Operations Manager
Coral Longoria is an alumna of Houston's very own High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and in 2015, she graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelors of Arts in Music Business Management and Performance with a minor in Latin Studies. After graduating from college, Coral further developed her knowledge and experience in the music industry as a Social Media & Marketing Coordinator for Miles High Productions. Later, she entered the events industry as an administrator, where she gained additional experience in business development and sales. Mrs. Longoria joined Opera In the Heights' team in 2019 as the Patron Experience Coordinator. In her spare time, she performs as a violinist around the Houston area.