ESAC Names Pearce Executive Director

The Eastern Shore Art Center (ESAC) has named Pelham “Pat” Pearce its executive director. He has more than 40 years of on-stage experience in the operatic arts. He holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of South Alabama and a master of music, vocal performance degree from the University of Mississippi. Pearce also served as a National Opera Institute apprentice for the Opera Co. of Philadelphia. From 1996 to 2022, as artistic director of Colorado’s Central City Opera, the fifth-oldest opera company in the U.S., he produced and managed a summer repertory season consisting of three operas. Each season, Pearce and his team would train an average of 31 young artists and 15 production interns, reaching approximately 120,000 adults and students with community engagement programs. Prior to his tenure with Central City, Pearce was general director of Mobile Opera Inc. At ESAC, he will lead staff to expand ESAC programming to reach Daphne, Spanish Fort and Gulf Shores.