Director of University Opera David Ronis is the 2024 winner of The American Prize in Directing (The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize) for his work in the 2023 production of La traviata. University Opera also secured a tie for second place this year in the college/university division of the American Prize in Opera Performance for the same production.

This double win from The American Prize follows last year’s double win for the University Opera production of  Sweeney Todd (first place for both production and direction).

“Huge kudos to everyone involved in this production–cast, orchestra, crew, designers, and production staff,” Ronis said. “We have so much to be proud of and grateful for.”

With 19 national awards to his credit since 2016–10 in the National Opera Association Production Competition, five production awards from The American Prize, and four directing awards from the same competition–Ronis has helped establish University Opera among the premier collegiate opera-producing organizations in the country.

“We are particularly grateful for the support that University Opera receives from generous donors, the Mead Witter School of Music administration, and the Madison community and look forward to many more productions that offer wonderful performance opportunities for our students and vital programming for our audiences,” Ronis said.

Ronis’ award-winning work will be on display this weekend with the University Opera production of Songbird at Music Hall November 22-26. Songbird is a hilarious and heartwarming retelling of Offenbach’s La Périchole set in 1920s New Orleans with jazz band accompaniment. University Opera’s spring production of A Little Night Music will be March 14-16, 2025 at the Wisconsin Union Theater.