Howard Bender | Executive Director

Apollo’s Fire was delighted in March to welcome Howard Bender as our new Executive Director – and eight months later, we are still delighted to welcome him! Howard began his AF tenure exactly one week before the lockdown. So, while few of our patrons have been able to meet him in person, he has skillfully masterminded AF’s operations from his “command center” at Moreland Courts in Shaker Heights.

Howard comes to us from Florida Grand Opera, where he was Chief Development Officer. He previously served as Vice President of Virginia Opera. Prior to his career in arts management, Howard had a flourishing career as an opera singer,performing in major opera houses on four continents. He sang for four seasons at the Metropolitan Opera and worked with many of the world’s leading conductors. He attended Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School, and holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music.

Howard has been a delightful asset to AF’s staff this year. We know that our patrons will enjoy meeting him!

Seven things you didn’t know about Howard Bender:

1. Age when you started to perform and love early music: 14

2. Guilty Pleasure: Sunday morning lox and bagels with the NY Times while switching back and forth between WCLV, WKSU and WCPN.

3. Favorite Travel Destination: anywhere with Ellen Bender4. Favorite NEO restaurant: too many to mention!

5. Favorite Tenor: At least 3 per category (sorry), Historic = Jussi Björling, Beniamino Gigli, Richard Tauber; Current = Piotr Beczala, Jonas Kaufmann, Joseph Calleja

6. Most unusual pre-teen accomplishment: pitching a no-hitter in the CH-UH Little League “World Series” of 196?

7. You wouldn’t believe it: played lead guitar in the infamous 60s garage band The Critic’s Choice