His concert work has included guest conducting the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Utah and Seattle.

Opera Cleveland was formed in April by the merger of Cleveland Opera and Lyric Opera Cleveland. Cleveland Opera, the larger of the two companies, produced fall, spring and winter seasons at the State Theater in Playhouse Square, while Lyric Opera Cleveland staged a summer season at the Cleveland Playhouse.

The new company recently announced its 2007 inaugural season, which opens on April 20 with Salome, starring soprano Lise Lindstrom. The spring-to-fall season also features La traviata, A Little Night Music, The Turn of the Screw and Tosca, which will close out the season in October.

Peter L. Rubin, president of the Opera Cleveland board, said, "Buckley brings to this appointment a deep knowledge of classical music and the opera stage, a passionate love for the art form and a dynamic and exciting talent for taking opera to a new level emotionally. Through his work on last season's Turandot he has built an excellent rapport with the artistic and management staff of Opera Cleveland."