Houston Grand Opera hires new philanthropy leader

South Texas College of Law VP takes on chief philanthropy officer role

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Houston Grand Opera has announced the hiring of Claire McAdams as its new chief philanthropy officer, replacing long-time executive Deborah Hirsch.

Why it matters

Fundraising and philanthropic support are critical for the Houston Grand Opera to continue its mission of providing world-class opera performances and educational programs. McAdams' experience in development and donor relations at the South Texas College of Law will be valuable in this new role.

The details

Claire McAdams, previously the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at South Texas College of Law, has been named the new Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Houston Grand Opera. In this role, McAdams will oversee all fundraising, donor relations, and philanthropic efforts for the opera company.

  • Claire McAdams started in her new role at the Houston Grand Opera on February 1, 2026.

The players

Claire McAdams

The new Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Houston Grand Opera, previously serving as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at South Texas College of Law.

Deborah Hirsch

The long-time executive at the Houston Grand Opera who is being replaced by Claire McAdams as the new Chief Philanthropy Officer.

Houston Grand Opera

A renowned opera company based in Houston, Texas that presents world-class opera performances and educational programs.

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What they’re saying

“I'm thrilled to be joining the Houston Grand Opera team and look forward to building on the company's strong philanthropic foundation.”

— Claire McAdams (bizjournals.com)

What’s next

McAdams will begin meeting with key donors and supporters of the Houston Grand Opera in the coming weeks to discuss the company's fundraising priorities and long-term vision.

The takeaway

The hiring of an experienced development leader like Claire McAdams signals the Houston Grand Opera's commitment to securing the financial resources needed to sustain its acclaimed artistic programming and community engagement efforts.