Meet Doug LaBrecque
This month, Stroll Inside the Gates highlights Doug LaBrecque, a man who has had a substantial impact on the cultural landscape of our Lake Country community. LaBrecque serves as Artistic Director of the Oconee Performing Arts Society (OPAS), a mission driven non-profit that brings world-class performances to our local stages and endows educational programs that open doors for young artists across our community. Since taking the reins in 2020, he has led OPAS into a new golden age of artistry and philanthropy, inspired by his own rich history in the performing arts.
Who is Doug LaBrecque?
Doug LaBrecque was born and raised in Michigan, the youngest of seven children. He attended the University of Utah, where he was a Division 1 collegiate diver, but his passion quickly gravitated toward the stage. In a leap of faith, LaBrecque transferred to the University of Michigan. Michigan’s Musical Theatre Department is one of the most acclaimed arts programs in the country, and he was soon immersed in rigorous vocal training and dramatic study. His collegiate training laid the foundation for an exceptional career.
LaBrecque made his professional debut with the national companies of Les Misérables in San Francisco and Chicago, where his stage presence, vocal authority, and emotional depth garnered acclaim from audiences and critics alike. His success soon led to his casting as Raoul in the celebrated Andrew Llloyd Webber/ Harold Prince production of The Phantom of the Opera in Toronto. A few years later, at Mr. Prince’s request, he starred as the Phantom in that very same production.
Following his run in Phantom, LaBrecque was selected to perform in the original Broadway cast of the five-time Tony Award–winning revival of Show Boat. He took on the role of Stephen Baker opposite film star Lonette McKee, starring both on Broadway and in Toronto. He later took on the leading role of Gaylord Ravenal on Broadway and in Chicago. In addition to Ms. McKee, LaBrecque starred alongside Broadway legends Elaine Stritch, Rebecca Luker, Robert Morse, and, later, Dorothy Loudon, Dick Van Patten, and singer Marilyn McCoo.
While at the height of his Broadway career, LaBrecque was pulled toward a new calling—concert performance. This led to a remarkable twenty-year career as one of the nation’s most prolific concert vocalists. He appeared with more than 100 symphony orchestras worldwide, including the Boston Pops, Chicago Symphony, Detroit Symphony, National Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic. LaBrecque made his Carnegie Hall debut with beloved American composer and conductor Marvin Hamlisch. This marked the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration with acclaimed conductors, renowned orchestras, and audiences worldwide.
LaBrecque’s concerts featured Broadway showstoppers, American Songbook classics, holiday and patriotic pops, and contemporary works, all with his signature captivating vocal grace and commanding stage presence. He also began to develop a reputation as an exceptional producer and director, curating programs and performances that resonated with audiences. This artistic instinct became vital to his later work with OPAS.
In addition to LaBrecque’s love for the arts, he also has a unique interest in historical preservation, as evidenced by his standing as the award-winning steward of the Curtis and Lillian Meyer House, a Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Usonian home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. LaBrecque cherishes the home not merely as a part-time residence but as a cultural artifact. That is why he undertook a meticulous, historically informed restoration that has been widely recognized for its integrity, scholarship, and sensitivity. LaBrecque’s work on the Meyer House earned him the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy’s highest honor bestowed upon a homeowner: the Wright Spirit Award. The house is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was awarded the Seth Peterson Cottage Visser Award for historic preservation. These recognitions reflect not only the quality of the restoration but also LaBrecque’s broader commitment to education, public engagement, and preservation advocacy.
The Next Chapter: OPAS
In 2019, the Oconee Performing Arts Society began an extensive national search for their next Artistic Director. Eyes fell on LaBrecque, who had performed for OPAS twice in the past. After careful consideration, he proved to be the perfect fit, bringing valuable industry knowledge and decades of experience from his distinguished career performing and producing.
LaBrecque went on to lead OPAS through the pandemic, one of the most challenging periods in modern arts history. While countless theaters and arts organizations went under, he remained determined to help OPAS thrive. Thanks to his hard work and a steadfast mission to bring music, connection, and inspiration to our community, OPAS not only survived but emerged stronger, broadening its programming, strengthening donor relationships, and dramatically expanding its arts education initiatives.
LaBrecque has championed numerous successful events with OPAS. Fa-la-la, which began as a seasonal concert, has grown into an annual sold-out sensation, uniting professional Georgia-based orchestral musicians creating The OPAS Philharmonic. Fa-la-la also includes student performers and the community in a joyful holiday celebration. In 2021, LaBrecque created the OPAS Lounge Series, which has welcomed numerous Grammy Award-winning artists, including Catherine Russell and six-time Grammy winner Samara Joy. His vision for an intimate jazz lounge setting greatly enhanced the performances of some of the most celebrated names in contemporary Jazz.
Building on the success of the Lounge Series, The OPAS Candlelight Series reimagines an OPAS event with elegant warmth, offering audiences a uniquely immersive musical experience. Both series reflect LaBrecque’s flair for pairing world-class artistry with thoughtfully curated audience experiences.
LaBrecque also created Broadway Sings for OPAS, a Broadway caliber orchestral concert that has become immensely popular and a cornerstone of each OPAS season. The resounding success of that series led LaBrecque to craft OPAS Unplugged, which expanded the artistic landscape even further, creating a chamber music series devoted to classical repertoire performed in an unamplified, acoustically pure setting for devoted music lovers in the community. In addition to these concerts, LaBrecque moved the Fourth of July concert to Memorial Day Weekend and sited the event at the beautiful 200-acre property, The Farm at Oconee. This concert, drawing well over 1,000 people each year, extends complimentary tickets to all children under 12, and all students from the Boys and Girls Club and the Atlas Academy are invited to attend at no cost.
In addition to his mission to bring world-class performances to our community, LaBrecque has a deeply personal commitment to providing local students with access to the arts. As a recipient of scholarships and mentorship himself, he understands firsthand how a single door opened at the right moment can alter the course of a life.
Under LaBrecque’s guidance, OPAS has become a vital force for arts education in our community, offering local youth the chance to explore their talents, discover their creative voices, and dream big. 25 students now participate annually in the Broadway Intensive led by the Arts Barn and The Plaza Arts Center, and OPAS proudly awards five college-level performing arts scholarships, helping talented students pursue higher education. The OPAS Concert Truck and POP-UP Series brings live music directly into Greene County Schools and local communities, while the newly created OPAS Piano Lab, led by Amy Reber and funded by Bo Fears, is now in residence at The ATLAS Academy, serving 16 students this semester. OPAS has also presented major education programs and numerous masterclasses at Greene County High School, Lake Oconee Academy, and Putnam County High School. The OPAS Youth Chorus rehearses each fall and presents a free holiday program to the community each December. Since its creation in 2021, the OPAS Lesson Bank continues to provide need-based students with music instruction from internationally renowned faculty, changing lives along the way.
LaBrecque’s Love for the Lake Oconee Community
After being appointed Artistic Director of OPAS, LaBrecque made his official move to Lake Country in July 2020, and quickly fell in love. His favorite part about living at Lake Oconee is the kindness and generosity of the people, which makes his job so fulfilling. Through OPAS, he gives back to friends and neighbors across the region, ensuring the organization remains welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all.
“Doug LaBrecque has fundamentally reshaped what OPAS means to our community and beyond,” said Barry Selvidge, OPAS Board Chair. “He brings a rare combination of world-class artistic credibility, visionary programming, and a deeply personal commitment to arts education and access for students. Under his leadership, OPAS not only presents extraordinary performances, but the organization has also become a true cultural engine for Georgia’s Lake Country, one that nurtures young talent, strengthens community bonds, and sets a standard for artistic excellence that rivals far larger cities. We are incredibly fortunate to have Doug guiding OPAS into our next chapter.”
Looking ahead, LaBrecque has his sights set firmly on a vibrant and ambitious future for OPAS. His vision includes expanding access to arts education, deepening support for young artists, welcoming internationally celebrated performers, and strengthening partnerships with community-centered organizations. He believes wholeheartedly that communities flourish when creativity is valued, nurtured, and shared.
Through his leadership, OPAS has become a driving cultural force, enriching lives, elevating artistic standards, and building a legacy of excellence and opportunity that will serve generations to come.
