IN MEMORIAM
Dear Members of the Board,
Nashville Opera joins our community in mourning the passing of Martha Rivers Ingram, whose extraordinary vision, generosity, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of the arts helped shape Nashville into the vibrant cultural city it is today.
Mrs. Ingram understood that the arts enrich lives, strengthen communities, and inspire future generations. Through her remarkable philanthropy and leadership, she helped establish a lasting foundation for arts organizations across our city. Nashville Opera is among the many organizations that have been profoundly impacted by her commitment to ensuring that the performing arts remain an essential part of our community.
Mrs. Ingram believed in Nashville Opera’s mission and in opera’s power to educate, inspire and bring our community together. Her confidence in our organization helped make our work, and the work of many other arts organizations across Nashville, possible.
For more than three decades, John Hoomes, the Opera’s CEO and Artistic Director, had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Ingram personally and witnessing firsthand her wisdom, humility and steadfast dedication to the arts. Her encouragement, counsel and friendship touched not only our organization but also those fortunate enough to work alongside her in advancing Nashville’s cultural landscape.
“When I reflect on the milestones our company has achieved over the past 30 years, I know many of them simply would not have happened without Mrs. Ingram’s belief in our mission, her wise counsel and her extraordinary generosity. It is difficult to accept the loss of someone who has been such an influential and inspirational presence in my life and in the life of Nashville Opera, but my overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude that we were fortunate enough to know her, learn from her and be part of the remarkable legacy she created.”
JOHN HOOMES, CEO AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
“Mrs. Ingram modeled for all Nashvillians the profound impact of passion, time, energy, and generosity on a community and its arts. Thousands benefit from her vision and generosity each year and will for generations to come. We at Nashville Opera are privileged and grateful to be a part of that legacy.”
NICHOLAS MCCLAY, BOARD PRESIDENT
Martha Ingram’s legacy will continue to be reflected every time the curtain rises, every time a young person discovers the joy of opera and every time our community comes together through the shared experience of the performing arts.
We extend our deepest condolences to Mrs. Ingram’s family and all who were blessed to know her. Nashville has lost one of its greatest champions, but her vision and generosity will continue to inspire our work for generations to come.
SERVICE INFORMATION
Visitation with the family is scheduled for August 13, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Georges Episcopal Church.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on August 14, 2026, at St. Georges Episcopal Church. A private graveside service will be held for the family after the funeral service.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to any of Martha’s favorite arts groups or Vanderbilt University.
