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One of Australia’s foremost contemporary opera and music-theatre directors, Douglas Horton, is stepping down as Artistic Director of the company he established back in 1988 - the pioneering and internationally regarded ChamberMade Opera - to pursue new projects in film and theatre.

Announcing his decision, Douglas Horton said:
‘This is an exciting new chapter, both for me and for ChamberMade. In 21 prolific years ChamberMade has spearheaded fundamental developments both in the art form and the opera/music-theatre industry. We have brought the work of leading Australian artists to audiences across Australia and across four continents. Now is the time for both myself and the company to engage fresh new energies and new visions. Australia is truly blessed in the range and depth of its talent, and I very much look forward to seeing the baton passed to the next brilliant generation.”

Karen Hadfield, the Chair of ChamberMade, said:
“I have admired the work of Douglas Horton and ChamberMade since it began and it is with great sadness that I see him leave the company he established; I wish him all the very best in his new direction and am happy he will be directing a number of projects for CMO and overseeing the smooth transition to this new phase in the life of the company. We respect his decision and will miss him.”

Douglas Horton will continue on upcoming ChamberMade productions including two international collaborations, the group-devised ‘Beneath’ and Michael Smetanin’s ‘Mayakovsky’, and a new opera by Julian Yu and Glenn Perry, after Tim Winton’s ‘That Eye the Sky’. The Board will commence recruitment for Mr Horton's replacement immediately.