IMG Artists Announces Robert Cole as Interim Artistic and Executive Director of the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center
By: BWW News Desk Mar. 25, 2014
IMG Artists announced today that industry veteran Robert Cole has been named Interim Artistic and Executive Director of California's Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater.
IMG Artists, the global leader in performing arts management, has been associated with Lincoln Theater since the founding of the Napa Valley Festival del Sole in 2006. The company is a major financial patron and operational partner of the theater in support of its artistic, community and educational programs.
Barrett Wissman, Co-chairman of IMG Artists, says, "We are thrilled that Robert Cole will be at the helm during the continued reinvigoration of the Lincoln Theater. He is well-known and respected throughout the performing arts industry for his artistic, administrative and financial expertise. IMG Artists is committed to the continued development of this vibrant venue, and we know that Robert is the right person to help the Lincoln Theater thrive."
Robert Cole is one of the most esteemed executives in the performing arts and venue industry. He received his M.A. in Music from the University of Southern California School of Music, and continued his studies with Leonard Bernstein and Leon Barzin at the Tanglewood Music Center. From 1986 2009, Mr. Cole was Director of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley; and General Director of the Berkeley Festival & Exhibition from 1990. During his tenure, Cal Performances became one of the premier U.S. venues, attracting an exceptional caliber and variety of artists, and achieved a nearly ten-fold increase in annual ticket sales. Since 2010, he has been the Director of Artistic Planning and Administration at the Green Music Center at California's Sonoma State University.
In addition to being an admired executive, Mr. Cole is also a renowned conductor, having worked with leading U.S. and European orchestras, opera and dance companies. In 1995, Mr. Cole was awarded the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government.
Mr. Cole's appointment is effective immediately. Further announcements about artistic programming direction and management and development initiatives will be made in the coming months.
ABOUT:
IMG Artists is a global leader of performing arts management. For thirty years, the company has set the standard for excellence across the artist management, touring, events, festivals and cultural consulting fields. IMGA's 150 dedicated specialists in twelve offices across three continents offer unparalleled international reach and depth of experience to the company's artists, clients and partners. With the launch of the SAGE joint venture with China Arts and Entertainment group and new venue management and technology initiatives designed to support and enhance the core business, IMGA remains the vanguard of the industry.
Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theaterisa comprehensive, multi-disciplinary performing arts center built on strong community artistic and philanthropic relationships, impactful arts education programs, and first-class local, national and international entertainment (including a new, scalable symphonic orchestra,Symphony Napa Valley). Celebrating its first year anniversary, the Performing Arts Center hasemerged as a leading provider of arts education and world-class entertainment in the Napa Valley.
Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theateroperates under the aegis ofLincoln Theater Foundation,a non-profit public benefit 501(c)(3) corporation, dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, enhancing and providing access to the performing arts and arts education, to nurturing and developing the artists and audiences of tomorrow by building a sustainable, relevant professional performing arts center where education and community are as important as entertainment, and to being a valued asset to the California Veterans Home and to the Napa Valley community at large.
Robert Cole received his M.A. in Music from the University of Southern California School of Music where he studied with Ingolf Dahl. He then studied opera with Fritz Sweig and symphonic repertoire with Richard Lert in Los Angeles. Later, he studied with Leonard Bernstein and Leon Barzin at the Tanglewood Music Center as well as with Hans Swarowsky in Europe. Mr. Cole served as Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and was the Executive Director and Music Director of the Ballet Society of Los Angeles where he worked with David Lichine and Tanya Riabouchinska. From 1986 2009, he was Director of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley. He was also General Director of the Berkeley Festival & Exhibition, an international festival of early music he founded in June 1990. Since 2010, he has been Director of Artistic Planning and Administration at the Green Music Center at California's Sonoma State University
He conducted the Kirov Orchestra with the Perm Ballet at the Mariinsky theatre in St. Petersburg, which was part of the White Nights Festival. Recently he conducted Giselle for Nina Ananiashvili at the Edinburgh Festival and the US-based Spoleto Festival. Since 1996, he has conducted The Hard Nut with the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Sadler's Wells in London, Bard College Festival and Cal Performances in Berkeley.
In 1995 Mr. Cole was awarded the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
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