About Us
Our Mission
Modern Opera Company seeks to enhance the musical and theatrical landscape of Southern California by providing an intimate, safe space for composers and performers to realize their artistic goals as they explore works-in-progress, and to showcase the diverse, passionate, local talent found in the Los Angeles area.
Our History
Founded in 2018, Modern Opera Company was formed to offer performing artists in New York City the opportunity to gain experience as they presented concert versions of existing 20th Century opera and musical theater works. After two successful seasons, the company expanded to offer opera and musical theater creators a place to workshop and present their works-in-progress to an audience, performed by top-level performers. In 2020, the company relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where it now is solely focused on presenting new operatic and musical theater works.
We are a 501(C)3 nonprofit
The Team
Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman, Founder & Artistic Director
Jessica Tivens-Schneiderman (She/her) has spent most of her life as a professional in opera and crossover music. As a performer, she has sung a wide variety of operatic roles with companies such as Festival Opera Walnut Creek, Mission Opera, Harrisburg Opera Association, and North Shore Music Festival, Lyric Opera of Orange County; and has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, among other venues. She has directed productions for MOC and for The Source/Filter Music Collective. Her collaborations with David Foster, Josh Groban, and Mike Garson, have brought her attention in the musical world beyond opera, having been official duet partner to Mr. Groban in the early 00’s. With Garson as producer, she recorded her first full-length album in 2007, Unlimited, available on most streaming platforms. In addition to her performance career, Ms. Tivens-Schneiderman owns and operates a prolific bi-coastal voice studio.
Chris Maldonado, Music Director
Chris Maldonado (he/they) is a pianist and voice coach based in Los Angeles, CA. Chris is passionate about centering the needs of marginalized persons in the music industry. They have publicly named the abusers and abuses of music institutions, festivals, and young artist
programs in addition to working towards creating safer and more equitable spaces. In August of 2020, Chris founded Opera Singer’s Book Club (OSBC), a young artist program designed to create affordable and accessible role study opportunities for singers. A huge issue within the
opera industry is that opera houses, festivals, and YAPs are predicated upon singers who are largely white and have access to family money, support, and housing beyond what is attainable
for most. Chris hopes to continue to be an advocate for marginalized persons both in music and their daily life.
Steve Schneiderman, Chief Financial Officer
Steve Schneiderman (he/him) is the Chief Financial Officer of Modern Opera Company, representing his debut project in the Arts & Entertainment industry. Steve is a 20+ year finance veteran and currently serves as Vice President of Corporate Development & Strategy for STIIIZY, the #1 legal cannabis brand by retail sales in the US according to BDS Analytics. Prior to STIIIZY, he spent a decade as an investment banker on Wall Street at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, BMO and TD Cowen where he focused on the Consumer & Retail industries. Steve earned an MBA at The Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelors of Science at Penn State University — and is a devoted fan of his Nittany Lions,
Elise Walters
Elise Walters (she/her) is a multifaceted interdisciplinary artist and a proud alumnus of the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where she studied Opera Vocal Performance and Theatre & Dance. Since relocating to Los Angeles from New York in 2020, she has continued to enrich the community through teaching and participating on multiple nonprofit boards, enhancing arts education and promoting innovative artistic collaborations. Her professional background includes roles in Advancement and Media and Communications at the Manhattan School of Music, and at the Interschool Orchestras of New York. Recent credits include choreographing "Aladdin" for Storybook Theater, performing as a soloist at San Luis Obispo's New Year's Eve Gala, and appearances in productions such as "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Pirates of Penzance." Elise’s commitment to the arts and community engagement continues to inspire and uplift audiences, making lasting impacts in the creative community.