Conservatory of Music

James Haffner

James Haffner, Assistant Professor of Voice and Director of Opera, began teaching in the Conservatory of Music in 1999.  He holds a B.A. degree in theatre from Baldwin-Wallace College, an Artists' Diploma in opera stage directing and a Master of Fine Arts in directing from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.  Professor Haffner is also a member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors' Lab.  He sits on the National Opera Association Board of Directors and has served as a consultant with Opera America.  Professor Haffner has taught at the Hochschule der Kunste and Die Technische Universitat in Berlin, Germany and served on the faculties of the University of Kentucky, Miami University of Ohio, Webster University and Cal State-Fullerton.

His production of La Cenerentola was selected as a finalist both at the regional and national levels in the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival.  La Cenerentola holds the distinction of being the first opera to be allowed to perform in the KC/ACTF.  Additional credits include the German premiere of Kushner's A Bright Room Called Day; La Traviata (Lyric Opera of San Antonio); Strawberry Fields (West Coast premiere, Pacific Opera Theatre); Dido and Aeneas (Museumsinsel Fest, Berlin); Over the Moon with Gilbert and Sullivan (Ohio premiere, Lyric Opera Cleveland); La Cenerentola (Cincinnati Opera Outreach Ensemble); Das Mahogonny Songspiel (Berliner Ensemble); Arlecchinata (Opera Theatre of Lucca); 1919: A Baseball Opera (Ensemble Studio Theatre, off-Off-Broadway); The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (HERE Space, off-Off-Broadway); The Vampire (First Place National Opera Association Competition, University of Cincinnati).

At the Conservatory, Professor Haffner teaches opera workshop, introduction to lyric diction, and opera production.  He is also the stage directer for all opera and musical theater productions and serves as an instructor at the Pacific Opera Institute. 

Conservatory of Music
University of the Pacific
3601 Pacific Avenue
Stockton, CA 95211
Voice: 209.946.2832
 James Haffner