Mark A. Richter has been referred to as one of the most innovative arts leaders in the region and the person credited with facilitating the return of opera in San Antonio.  As Founder of San Antonio Opera, his unrelenting drive to succeed coupled with a single entrepreneur style of management has made Richter into an expert in many various careered tasks along the way.  NEX

Born and raised in San Antonio, Richter began training on the viola at age 5.  By age 10, he was invited to perform in larger orchestras around the city.  Richter known locally for his operatic voice and his creation of San Antonio’s 3 Tenors, has performed in 20 musicals and on every stage in the city.  Trained at the University of the Incarnate Word, Richter became a soloist with the San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Choral Society, First Presbyterian Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and many other ensembles and garnered a well-deserved reputation as a performer.  In 1992, he and colleague Jeff Troxler produced 4 small operas at the Josephine Theater under the auspices of Metro Opera of San Antonio. Richter has written arts review columns for the Express News, San Antonio Current and the North San Antonio Times where he had a column for 3 years.  He has produced and promoted almost every type of entertainment to include grand opera, musical theater, and concerts featuring Maynard Ferguson and Roberta Peters to name a few.  A recent event innovation was producing a bloodless bullfight, initially held as a fundraiser for the opera Carmen, the event its second year had over 2,000 people in attendance.

Mark is a member of the city’s cultural collaborative, CASA organization, a former winner of the San Antonio Business Journals 40 under 40 Award, former member of the City of San Antonio Cultural Arts Board, former member of Alamo City Theater Council, and winner of the SAISD outstanding graduate award.