Originally from Chicago, IL, Melanie Bacaling (she/her) is an active Stage Director and Artistic Collaborator in the opera industry. She is currently on the Stage Directing Staff at The Metropolitan Opera and serves as Santa Fe Opera’s House Assistant Director. She has training in Intimacy Directing and she is passionate about creating actively inclusive artistic spaces, interrogating what it takes to decolonize the rehearsal room. Upcoming engagements include Revival Directing Carrie Cracknell’s production of Carmen at the Met, Associate Directing Matthew Ozawa’s production of Madama Butterfly at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and making her Stage Directing debut at Santa Fe Opera for the 2026 season with Madama Butterfly. Trained as a vocalist and pedagogue, Ms. Bacaling holds a BM in Voice and BS in Psychology from the University of Evansville, as well as an MM in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Boston Conservatory.