Eugene and San Francisco-based musician ROBERT ASHENS (music director & conductor), whose distinguished career as pianist and conductor has brought him to many world capitals, is Artistic Director/co-founder, West Coast Opera (Opera Oregon) and Johann Strauss Society of America, is past General and Artistic Director of Anchorage Opera and past Artistic Director of both Eugene Opera and Opera San Luis Obispo. As Music Director-Conductor of Shedd Theatricals, Oh, Kay! is his 14th production, with two more scheduled this season. He returned to Virago Opera in January-February 2014 for a much-heralded Il Trovatore. With a repertoire of nearly one hundred-twenty operas, he has conducted to great acclaim for regional opera companies throughout the United States and in many major cities of Europe, especially in Italy. He has also accompanied many opera luminaries in concert over the past 30 years. Ashens is in constant demand as a lecturer, accompanist and program director for concerts and recitals nationwide. Maestro Ashens toured nationally as conductor with the Broadway companies of A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Sugar Babies (with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller) and has premiered many new works of both Broadway and Opera. He is a Eugene Emerald Valley Rotarian, a member of Phi Beta, and is listed in Who’s Who In American Music.