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Dana Kaufman

@danakaufmanmusic

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Composer, educator, and occasional lyricist
Associate Professor @ucriversideofficial
📍SoCal
Recent/upcoming 🎶: @seattleopera @seoul_piri_ensemble

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“Sally Ride,” a co-production by @lowbrowoc and @synchromymusic, launches 🚀 this Friday in Seattle! Tix: lowbrow.click4tix.org

Shows at 7:30 pm on 5/29, 5/30, 6/4, 6/5, 6/6, 6/11, 6/12, and 6/13 at @theatreoffjackson 💙

Can’t make it in person? Livestream on 5/30 and 6/6!

#sallyride #lowbrowoperacollective #synchromymusic #seattlearts by @danakaufmanmusic

Last month, I had one of the most special “double bar days” of my life: I completed “Sally Ride,” my newest opera with librettist @transcherubino, about the first American woman and first known LGBTQ+ person to go to space. This show has been in development for over four years, and after an LA workshop in 2023, a performance of a portion of the work at @seattleopera in October 2025, and many twists and turns, I’m extraordinarily proud to say that @lowbrowoc will be giving the world premiere of the full work on May 29–one of eight performances through June 13–at Seattle’s @theatreoffjackson.

I’m indebted to so many people and organizations who helped bring this show to life: @neaarts, @seattleopera, @operaamerica, @virginiabtoulmin, @synchromymusic, @ucriversideofficial, Lowbrow Opera Collective, @2220arts, @lacity, @sallyridescience, Aiden Feltkamp, @dianawyenn, @kimberlynorrisguerrero, @ashleywalterscello, and the many, many musicians, theater experts, and arts administrators who have given this project their hearts. And I’m especially grateful to Tam O’Shaughnessy, Sally Ride’s life partner, who has been a consultant on the project and an instrumental part of helping our creative team highlight Tam and Sally’s beautiful, history-making advocacy and relationship in this work.

For some more pre-premiere #spacefever, check out @operaontapsea’s performance of excerpts of the work *tonight* at 7:30 at the @royalroomseattle. Tickets for the full opera/Lowbrow Opera Collective show at lowbrow.click4tix.com.

Can’t wait to share this opera!!!

#sallyride #queeropera #newopera #womeninstem by @danakaufmanmusic

ROCK THE VOTE!!! #halloween2026

P.S. Vote!!! Election Day is Tuesday. Everything you need to know!: vote.org by @danakaufmanmusic

For Your GRAMMY Consideration 🏆:

“Honeyball” for Best Contemporary Classical Composition and “Keys to the Beautiful Game” for Best Classical Compendium and Best Engineered Album, Classical

“Honeyball” is my tribute to Nettie Honeyball, who founded the first known women’s soccer team in 1895 when nobody wanted her to. I had an absolute blast writing it for @nadiashpachenko and soccer cleats.

GRAMMY voting members, give it a listen! Link to “Honeyball” in bio.

#FYC #GRAMMYs #NewMusic #WomenComposers #KeysToTheBeautifulGame by @danakaufmanmusic

Real stand-up gal? by @danakaufmanmusic

Sally Ride is a 90-minute opera exploring the life, love, and scientific achievements of Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space and a LGBTQ+ pioneer. With a libretto by Aiden Feltkamp, the work explores Ride’s nearly 30-year relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy while dramatizing her contributions to STEM education and space science. Blending the lyricism of opera with the energy of musical theater, the work offers a joyful, emotionally resonant, and melodically rich experience that expands the cultural conversation about women in science,
LGBTQ+ history, and the power of storytelling through music. The project will include workshops, pre-show talks, and interactive sessions for youth and families, particularly those historically underrepresented in STEM fields, including girls, queer youth, and youth of color.

#ce_org #space #STEM #sallyride #opera by @danakaufmanmusic

New academic year, new purchasing of progressive T-shirts by @danakaufmanmusic

Sweetness, good health, happiness, and all the love. Shanah tovah, mishpocha! by @danakaufmanmusic

I have an exciting announcement! My soccer CD “Keys to the Beautiful Game,” produced by the amazing Barry Werger will be dropping on July 17 on Reference Recordings! It took 5 years to complete this very exciting project for which I commissioned 10 composers Tom Flaherty, Pamela Z, Ian Dicke, David Sanford, Dana Kaufman, Harold Meltzer, Christopher Cerrone, Oliver Dubon, Adam Schoenberg, and Evan Ware to write soccer-inspired pieces for me. Evan’s piece “Skillset” will be a music video and will come out in the fall, the other 9 pieces are coming out this month as audio, available in all the usual spaces. I miss Harold so much, he was very proud of his soccer piece “Dribble” (inspired by #leonelmessi) and this recording! Check out the trailer and dive into #TheBeautifulGame!
#KeysToTheBeautifulGame #piano #soccer by @danakaufmanmusic

What 1) “blends history, science, and storytelling in a fresh contemporary work” (thanks, @classicalkingfm!), 2) got a sick shoutout on @npr, 3) is on @everoutseattle’s list of top events today (and this month!), 4) “ventures where [no operas] have gone before” (thank you, @nwtheatredotorg!), 5) still likes the idea of non-men on space missions, and 6) is closing this weekend? You guessed it!

Catch the three final @lowbrowoc performances of “Sally Ride” tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday at 7:30 at @theatreoffjackson! Saturday is almost sold out! Tickets at lowbrow.click4tix.com

Bittersweet and beautiful Seattle weekend ahead 💖🧑🏻‍🚀🚀 by @danakaufmanmusic

Synchromy is very excited to be co-presenting with @lowbrowoc and @danakaufmanmusic in Seattle!
If you'll be in the area May 29-30, June 4-6, or June 11-13, check it out.

Sally Ride is a new opera by composer Dana Kaufman and librettist Aiden Feltkamp. This opera follows the real-life story of the first American woman and the first LGBTQ+ person to go to space. Narrated by her life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, who consulted on the creation of this work, the opera illuminates parts of Ride’s life that remained hidden until her death, while celebrating her immense contributions to the field of physics, to the US space program, and to science education.

Sally Ride explores the thrills, disappointments, humor, and secrets of Ride’s life, taking the audience on a journey of personal exploration and triumph.

Tickets are available at https://lowbrowoc.org/sally-ride-2026 by @danakaufmanmusic

CSUF Interarts Collaborative projects symposium presents
THE ART OF SONG
Wednesday, MAY 13, 2026
4:30 - 9:00PM • RECITAL HALL
FREE ADMISSION

Dr. Pamela Madsen, Director
4:30pm Dana Kaufman, Guest Opera Composer
6pm Art of Song Seminar Mono-Drama Presentations
8pm Brightwork Quartet & Stacey

#csufcota #csufmusic by @danakaufmanmusic