Veronica Chapman-Smith serves as the Vice President of Community Initiatives, providing leadership for Opera Philadelphia's educational and community-centric programs, as well as accessibility initiatives. Before joining Opera Philadelphia, Veronica spent 16 years as a soloist, performing roles for opera companies across the U.S., including Opera Philadelphia and Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has also been a rostered chorister for Opera Philadelphia since 2002 and is a Grammy Award winner. Veronica holds a graduate certificate in Diversity Leadership from Temple University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance. In addition to her musical achievements, she actively participates in leadership programs, including the Urban League's Philadelphia African American Leadership Development Forum (2021), Art Equity’s BIPOC Leadership Circle (2021), and Art-Reach’s Leading and Emerging Accessibility Professional Cohort (2023).