About the Program

Janet Newkirk (1952-2024) was a passionate student of the piano, along with many other pursuits. Her devotion to the piano was superseded perhaps only by her interest in supporting the artists who crossed the path of her and her husband David, a Charlottesville Opera board member. Janet and David hosted countless artists for a variety of performance-based organizations in town over the years and formed lasting friendships with them. It is in Janet’s honor, and in the interest of promoting the future of collaborative pianists in opera, that this position is established within the Ader Emerging Artist Program at Charlottesville Opera.

At Charlottesville Opera's Royal Ball in October, 2025, long time board member and opera supporter, David Newkirk, announced a gift to create the Janet Newkirk Collaborative Pianist position as part of the Ader Emerging Artist Program. This gift will support an emerging artist pianist.

Read more about David and Janet

The Janet Newkirk Collaborative Pianist

Applications for the Newkirk Pianist Position have closed for this season.
​Please check back in October 2026 for application information for 2027.