A.J. Wester

Ms. Wester is a distinguished stage director, dynamic voice instructor, and passionate teaching artist making her mark in the thriving arts community of Chicago. Known for her "highly imaginative" approach—an accolade from The Petosky Times—she brings a distinctive flair to every production under her direction.

She has served on the directing faculty at Chicago Summer Opera as well as Northern Illinois University. Her prior successes include celebrated performances of iconic operas, such asCarmen and Le Nozze di Figaro, and her work at St. Petersburg Opera, where her direction of Tosca and the captivating Into the Woods has received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.

Ms. Wester's talent extends beyond the opera stage; she has inspired young performers and delighted audiences with productions like Once Upon a Mattress for the Merit School of Music, along with popular musicals such as Ragtime, Oklahoma, and Urinetown for After School Matters. Her artistry has been recognized at esteemed events, including the Bay View Music Festival, and through collaborations with various opera companies on productions like Roméo et Juliette and The Magic Flute, demonstrating her versatility across genres.

In addition to her directing accomplishments, Ms. Wester has been a highly sought after teaching artist. In 2017 she won the Make a Wave award with 3arts Chicago for her work in teaching artistry. She spent many years with the Lyric Unlimited program at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, which strives to make classical music more accessible and engaging—an initiative she is deeply committed to. She also served on the Opera and Voice faculties of Northern Illinois University and the Chicago High School for the Arts, where she mentored the next generation of talented artists. Many of her former students have taken the stage both nationally and internationally, earning prestigious awards and captivating audiences with their performances in classical music, musical theatre, pop music and banda.

Throughout her own performance career, Ms. Wester has showcased her talents as a classical singer, serving as a Studio Artist with Utah Opera and performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a featured artist in the Welcome Yule concert and the North American premiere of Phillip Glass’s Marriages between Zones 3, 4, and 5. Her extensive experience encompasses a variety of opera and theater companies, underscoring her multifaceted talent.

With a Bachelor of Music from Roosevelt University and a Master of Music from DePaul University, Ms. Wester continues to be a vibrant force in the arts, nurturing voices, inspiring creativity, and dedicated to sharing the magic of music with all.