Director Benjamin Cadwallader Selected For League of American Orchestras Emerging Leaders Program

Benjamin Cadwallader is one of only nine participants in the League of American Orchestras' Emerging Leaders Program. Viewed by the field as one of the best sources of identifying talented administrators with great leadership potential, the program is the flagship of the League's leadership development offerings. The program, along with its previous iteration, the Orchestra Management Fellowship Program, has advanced the development of more than 180 alumni, from 25 current executive directors of orchestras to countless senior executives.

"I am honored and humbled to participate in this tremendous offering from the League of American Orchestras. The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is an essential part of Vermont's cultural heritage and vital to our state's vibrant arts community; this program will connect the Vermont Symphony Orchestra with other forward-thinking orchestras around the nation and provide tools and support that will enable us to better serve and grow our proud, loyal Vermont audiences," commented Ben.

"Identifying and developing high-potential leaders has been a core commitment of the League since the organization's earliest days, commented League of American Orchestras President and CEO Jesse Rosen. "The cultivation of leaders who can help orchestras adapt to the rapid changes in our society remains at the heart of our mission."

The participants were selected through a competitive application process and were chosen based on their potential to make significant contributions to their orchestras and to the field as a whole.

The nine men and women will take part in both in-person and virtual seminars and have the opportunity to learn from top leaders in the field. Their ten-month experience, beginning this month, will culminate with a joint presentation with the program participants at the League of American Orchestras' 2017 National Conference in Detroit. Renowned leadership development expert John McCann is the lead faculty and facilitator of the Emerging Leaders Program.

The 2016-17 Emerging Leaders Program participants are:

Nora Brady, Associate Director, Sales and Marketing, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Benjamin Cadwallader, Executive Director, Vermont Symphony Orchestra

Susan Lape, Executive Director, Lake Forest Symphony

Elisabeth Madeja, Director of Marketing, Chicago Symphony Orchestra

David Renfro, Orchestra Personnel and Operations Manager, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Kathryn Rudolph, Director of Education and Community Engagement, Jacksonville Symphony

Amanda Stringer, CEO, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

Jodi Weisfield, Vice President of Development, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Randy Wong, Executive Director, Hawaii Youth Symphony

Bios and photos are linked here.

The Emerging Leaders Program is the newest chapter in the League's history of distinguished talent leadership programs for American orchestras. These programs have included the Orchestra Management Fellowship Program, the Executive Leadership Programs, Institutional Vision and Critical Issuesprograms, American Conducting Fellowship Program, and Essentials of Orchestra Management.

The inaugural 2015-16 class of the Emerging Leaders Program included Caleb Baily, Executive Director, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra (was Orchestra Manager Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra, Nebraska, when he participated); Jennifer Behr, Director of Patron Engagement, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (was Individual Giving Manager when she participated); Nicholas Cohen, General Manager, OrchKids and Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Bradley Evans, Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager, San Francisco Symphony; Yoo-Jin Hong, Director of Programs, Learning and Leadership Development, League of American Orchestras (was Director of Civic Orchestra and Training Programs Chicago Symphony Orchestra when she participated); and Rebecca Zabinski, Manager, Artistic Administrator, Houston Symphony (was Artistic Associate when she participated.)

A devoted advocate for the vibrant and surprising future of concert music, Benjamin Cadwallader is the Executive Director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1934, the VSO is committed to connecting communities through exceptional musical experiences, and is the first state-assisted orchestra in the nation. Ben is a proud alumnus of the Mannes College of Music, and has served in leadership positions at performing arts organizations throughout the country. As Education Programs Manager for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he worked to build and expand programming for young composers and schoolchildren throughout LA, and streamlined the budgeting process department-wide. As the Operations Director for Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, he supervised all aspects of production and operation, and as the General Manager of the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (New York, NY), he organized concerts and tours with 29 professional international soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral players. Ben believes strongly in community involvement and was a volunteer oboe teacher for the LA Phil's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) program. He also volunteered as a youth group facilitator at the Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas.

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is the only professional statewide orchestra providing live musical experiences for listeners in Vermont. It is a state-assisted non-profit institution founded in 1935 and exists for the purpose of fostering and encouraging the appreciation of music in all its various forms, with emphasis on orchestral, choral, and chamber music. If you would like more information or would like to schedule an interview, contact Amy Caldwell at(802) 864-5741 ext. 16 or amy@vso.org.

The League of American Orchestras leads, supports, and champions America's orchestras and the vitality of the music they perform. Its diverse membership of more than 2,000 organizations and individuals across North America runs the gamut from world-renowned symphonies to community groups, from summer festivals to student and youth ensembles, from conservatories to libraries, from businesses serving orchestras to individuals who love symphonic music. The only national organization dedicated solely to the orchestral experience, the League is a nexus of knowledge and innovation, advocacy, and leadership advancement. Its conferences and events, award-winning Symphony magazine, website, and other publications inform people around the world about orchestral activity and developments. Founded in 1942 and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League links a national network of thousands of instrumentalists, conductors, managers and administrators, board members, volunteers, and business partners. Visit americanorchestras.org.

The Emerging Leaders Program is made possible by generous grants from American Express Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.