Dennis Hanthorn

general director, Atlanta Opera

Dennis Hanthorn joined the Atlanta Opera as its first general director in 2004. Hanthorn has eliminated the opera's debt and stabilized the company's cash flow. In 2006, Hanthorn made the decision to move performances to the new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, making the company one of the few nationwide to move its performances from a downtown area. Prior to joining the Atlanta Opera, Hanthorn was general director with the Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee for 15 years.