Lourdes Starr, a trained musician with degrees in performance and composition, is Chief Operating Officer at Opera Philadelphia. Most recently, she served as President & CEO of Astral Artists. Starr comes to Opera Philadelphia with more than 25 years of experience in the classical music world and has a strong track record of supporting highly talented young musicians. Her vast range of expertise in education & community partnership programs, orchestral touring, concert production, special event planning, fundraising, the creation of digital content including online courses, summer music festivals, and digital arts education has spanned various administrative roles with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. 

In her volunteer work, Starr has served organizations in both the musical and education worlds. Previously, she has served in board roles for Montessori Schools in Philadelphia and Haddonfield, N.J and has served on the Board of Directors of Network for New Music, which has been referred to as “the premiere new music organization” in Philadelphia, and as Vice President of the Board of Trustees for The Greater South Jersey Chorus, where she remains an active member of the soprano section. Presently, Starr serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, in Elmer, NJ, which strives to co-create experiences that inspire people to unleash their inherent creativity, leading to self-discovery, personal growth, community building, and joy. In addition, Starr has designed and led workshops on the topic of building racial equity and accessibility within classical music, while presenting at national conferences in Detroit, Chicago and Atlanta.