On November 12, Boston Lyric Opera was proud to honor Lee Pelton as the Community Honoree at our 2025 Opera Gala, recognizing his many contributions to the artistic community in Boston. We sat down with him to talk about opera, connection, and the arts.
About Lee Pelton: Lee Pelton — recognized in 2024 by The NonProfit Times as one of America’s 50 most powerful and influential nonprofit leaders — serves as President and CEO of The Boston Foundation. He joined TBF after presidencies at Emerson College and Willamette University, bringing decades of leadership experience in education and civic engagement. At the Boston Foundation, Pelton has positioned the organization as a leading agent for social change, centering equity and addressing the structural causes of disparities affecting historically marginalized communities. Known for embracing challenges beyond his comfort zone, Pelton co-curated Steve McQueen’s Lynching Tree exhibition with Peggy Fogelman at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and appeared in Boston Lyric Opera’s 2025 production of Carousel as Dr. Seldon/Starkeeper. He has received numerous honors for educational excellence and social justice, including the Harvard Medal (2024), and is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Boston Magazine has repeatedly named him among the “150 Most Influential Bostonians.” Pelton serves as an advisor to the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Project and sits on the boards of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, WGBH, The Barr Foundation, and the Urban Institute.