You may recognize Royce as the librettist for AtG’s Indians on Vacation project with Edmonton Opera. As our new Artistic Director, Royce brings a wealth of experience, and a reputation as one of the most celebrated librettists in contemporary opera. A Canada-born, Brooklyn-based artist, Vavrek has been called “the indie Hofmannsthal” by The New Yorker and “an exemplary creator of operatic prose” by The New York Times. His work has been lauded for its innovative narratives, emotional depth, and ability to resonate with contemporary audiences. Royce’s career is distinguished by his groundbreaking collaborations with leading composers and his ability to craft compelling stories that challenge traditional operatic conventions. His work includes Angel’s Bone with composer Du Yun, which won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Royce has been commissioned by prestigious organizations including The Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, Norwegian National Opera, La Monnaie de Munt, Opera Philadelphia, Beth Morrison Projects, Opéra de Montréal, and Houston Grand Opera.
With a BFA in Filmmaking and Creative Writing from Concordia University’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema in Montreal, and an MFA from New York University’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program, Royce’s multidisciplinary background enables him to approach opera with a fresh perspective, infusing it with elements of film, theater, and contemporary culture. As Artistic Director, Royce is committed to leading AtG into a new chapter, where the company will continue to break boundaries and explore new narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

Heather Slater is a dynamic, collaborative leader with over 25 years’ experience in performing arts management. She is recognized for her success in aligning artistic excellence with organizational sustainability, and her deep commitment to audience engagement and community impact. With her expertise in artistic programming, cultural policy development, and stakeholder collaboration, she has driven growth and innovation in both non-profit and municipal government settings.

Heather has held key roles at several Canadian arts organizations, including Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic. As Director of Artistic Planning in Calgary, she brought a fresh perspective to programming, forged meaningful partnerships with diverse community groups, and played a pivotal role in expanding and diversifying the orchestra's audience base. Most recently, as Manager of Arts and Culture for Chatham-Kent, she developed the region's first Public Art Policy, fostered the creation of its first community arts council, and was instrumental in transforming the Municipal performing arts centers into vibrant cultural hubs.

Heather is excited to be joining ATG as Executive Director, bringing her passion and expertise to an organization she has long admired. "As an avid fan of ATG since its inception, I am deeply honoured to be part of this innovative company that is reimagining the art form and amplifying diverse creative voices, work that is both timely and essential. I look forward to collaborating with visionary Artistic Director Royce Vavrek to shape the next chapter of this exceptional organization."

Holding a B.Mus in Vocal Performance from Western University and an Advanced Certificate in Performance from the University of Toronto, Lauren Halász is a singer, content creator, digital marketing specialist, and director living and working in the Greater Toronto Area. Having worked with former AtG Digital Marketing Manager Daevyd Pepper, Lauren transitioned to their current position in May of 2023, taking the expertise they learned from Daevyd along with them. In addition to the work Lauren does for AtG, they also manage their own band, "Lo & the High Road", across social media platforms. Over the past few years, Lauren has grown these social media accounts to over 200k followers/subscribers combined. In pursuits other than marketing, Lauren is an active classical singer and folk singer/songwriter who performs frequently in Ontario and beyond. As a director, Lauren has brought a few operas to the silver screen, most notably Medusa's Children by OperaQ, which received a nomination for OPERA America's Digital Excellence in Opera awards under the Artistic Creation category.

Since graduating with a B.A. (Arts Management) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University, Meredith has managed a range of performing arts organizations in both Australia and Canada. She was the Manager/Producer for Peggy Baker Dance Projects (2002-2024) and Volcano Theatre (2005-2021) in Toronto, and also worked with Nova Dance, CORPUS, Dusk Dances, Patch Theatre Company, and the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust (Andrew Noblet Marketing Fellow). She has sat on boards and advisory committees for the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (3 years as TAPA Board Chair), the Metcalf Foundation (Strategic Initiatives and Creative Strategy Incubator programs), and Centennial College’s Arts Management graduate certificate program. In 2014, she was awarded the Leonard HcMardy and John Harvey Award for Outstanding Leadership in Arts Administration. Meredith was a CUPE lecturer for the School of Performance at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2021, and 2012-14; and established the Producers’ Learning Network in Toronto in 2016. She currently works with Dawn Jani Birley's 1s1 Theatre and dance artist, Esie Mensah.