Scott Altman began his tenure as General Director in October, 2009. Scott is Arizona Opera’s fifth Director since its founding in 1971. Understanding that Arizona Opera’s core mission is to serve the entire state he has collaborated with many of the state’s leading arts and culture organizations and communities beyond the urban core. With great enthusiasm and vision he has launched outreach initiatives to broaden and strengthen the audience base and patronage of the 40 year company

Prior to this appointment Scott co-founded Opera New Jersey in 2002 and most recently served as its General and Artistic Director. Opera New Jersey is one of the country's fastest growing professional opera companies and has been recognized nationally for the excellence of its artistic product and respected for its business practices.

Scott envisioned an ambitious future for Opera New Jersey, creating a four opera season in its first year and built Opera New Jersey into a statewide arts institution which inspires and impacts the lives of over 50,000 children and adults annually. His impressive achievements were featured on the Emmy award winning PBS program, "State of the Arts." The organization produces in five separate venues crossing the state and throughout the region, engaging world renowned and cutting edge performers.

Scott's progression to artistic and general director of an opera company was informed by his earlier career as a professional singer. He has performed bass-baritone roles on stages throughout the country, with companies such as New York City Opera, Arizona Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Austin Lyric Opera. Scott also twice appeared as soloist at Carnegie Hall. His most recent appearance with Arizona Opera was in the role of Ashby in the 2001 production of The Girl of the Golden West.

Scott has taught at Princeton University where he served as instructor in opera, and he continues to be invited as a guest master class instructor and adjudicator of vocal competitions nationwide.