With eyes on expansion, the Dallas-based choral group Verdigris Ensemble has hired its first-ever executive director.
Kyle Igneczi came on board in early August, bringing with him his breadth of experience as a performer, puppeteer, and nonprofit arts administrator.
Igneczi has worked with organizations across Dallas-Fort Worth, including the Plano Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center, Addison’s WaterTower Theatre, Dallas Children’s Theater, Dallas’ Imprint Theatreworks, and Dallas’ Uptown Players.
“In my career, I have been blessed with incredible, transformative experiences through the arts,” Igneczi said of his appointment to the position, according to Culture Map Dallas. “Stepping into this role allows me to build upon these life-affirming moments and engage this community in a way that provides further opportunity for artists and audiences here in Dallas-Fort Worth.”
“I am thrilled to join the already incredible team at Verdigris to define a future full of new possibilities in the cultural landscape here and beyond,” he added.
Verdigris Ensemble is a team of vocalists looking to push the boundaries of choral music to create intricate, transformative musical experiences for audiences. Known for their creative storytelling, the group aims to inspire others through sharing tales about the collective human experience.
Recently, Verdigris Ensemble premiered a show called SHAMS, which brought famed 13th-century Persian poet Rumi’s work to life with vocals and strings, as previously reported in The Dallas Express.
The group has collaborated with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Museum of Art, Soluna Festival, Bang on a Can All-Stars, and more since it was founded in 2017.
For Sam Brukhman, Verdigris Ensemble’s founding artistic director, hiring Igneczi “was an obvious choice.”
“His experience in performance, background in fundraising, and clear love and desire to grow nonprofits is exactly what we’re looking for. He is a clear fit for the organization,” Brukhman explained, according to Culture Map Dallas.
This sentiment is shared by Igneczi, who recently worked as the managing director of Imprint Theatreworks.
“Joining Verdigris seems like the culmination of all the work I’ve done through the years,” Igneczi said.
A donation made in memory of Emily Javadi, a young entrepreneur and violinist killed by a drunk driver in 2015, helped support Igneczi’s appointment.
