The University of Houston will welcome three new faculty members to the Moores School of Music in the McGovern College of the Arts this fall to lead the Moores Opera Center and Voice Program. Kathleen Belcher, a highly acclaimed stage director, will join as the new Artistic Director of the Moores Opera Center, accompanied by Keith Chambers, a seasoned conductor and Founder & Artistic Director of New Amsterdam Opera, as Music Director. Daniel Belcher, a GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, will also join as an Instructional Assistant Professor of Voice, bringing with him exceptional skill and knowledge to the Voice Program at the Moores School of Music 

Kathleen Smith Belcher, a highly experienced stage director, has worked extensively with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and the San Diego Opera, among others. She has collaborated with renowned directors such as Woody Allen, Michael Mayer, Bartlett Sher, Susan Stroman, and Julie Taymor. Belcher has directed numerous productions, including Le comte Ory at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lohengrin at The Metropolitan Opera, and Rigoletto with Pacific Symphony. She has received critical acclaim for her direction of Il barbiere di Sivigila, Madama Butterfly, and Gianni Schicchi, among others. Belcher has served as Artistic Director of Opera at the University of Kansas and is coming to the University of Houston from the University of Michigan. 

Keith Chambers has conducted 150+ opera performances for various companies, including The Dallas Opera and Indianapolis Opera. He's served as Cover/Assistant Conductor for over 40 operas and has assisted notable conductors. Chambers is Principal Guest Conductor of Manhattan Opera Studio and the Founder & Artistic Director of New Amsterdam Opera. 

Daniel Belcher, a GRAMMY® Award-winning baritone, has performed in major music cities worldwide and has a repertoire of over 80 roles. He gained international attention in 2004 for his role in Peter Eötvös' Angels in America. Belcher has created numerous roles for world premieres, such as Inspector Kildare in Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell's Elizabeth Cree and Lord Bellingham in Lori Laitman's The Scarlet Letter.  

In the most recent 2022-23 season, Belcher sang the roles of Lawrence in The Wreckers by Ethel Smyth at the Houston Grand Opera, and Fritz/Frank in Die Tote Stadt at Opera Colorado. As a teacher, he has served as the Director of the Artist Diploma program at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri since 2019. He also serves as voice teacher for the Resident Artist Programs at both Opera Colorado and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. He has previously held positions at Florida State University, the Israel Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, The Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Cooperative at Rider University, and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. Belcher is a graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Studio.