After 25 years as Director of the award-winning Crane Opera Ensemble at the State University of New York - Potsdam, Carleen Graham was appointed Director of HGOco, Houston Grand Opera’s community engagement and education program in August 2016. Current projects at HGOco include a new commission for the Song of Houston initiative - the March 2017 world premiere of Some Light Emerges, music by Laura Kaminsky with libretto by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed; the development of an opera [yet to be titled] for children and families by composer Kamala Sankaram and librettist David Johnston slated for January 2018; and the selection of new Song of Houston projects slated to premiere starting in 2019. During her tenure with SUNY, Dr. Graham was awarded the SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor rank and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Graham was instrumental in the development of the Domenic J. Pellicciotti Opera Composition Prize. She was the founding Executive Director (along with Stephanie Blythe) of the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar from 2011-2016, and is a member of OPERA America’s Singer Training Forum and the National Opera Association.