Katherine E. Johnson Named NY Philharmonic's Media Director

Katherine E. Johnson has been promoted to Director, Public and Media Relations at the New York Philharmonic. She reports to Eric Latzky, Vice President, Communications. Katherine (Katie) Klenn has been promoted from Public Relations Assistant to Assistant Director, Tour and Media Relations, and Amanda Conte will join the New York Philharmonic as Communications Assistant.
 
Katherine Johnson joined the New York Philharmonic Communications department in January 2008, on the eve of the Orchestra's historic visit to Pyongyang. In addition to running the day-to-day business of the department, Ms. Johnson has created and implemented multifaceted media plans for top-level projects and key initiatives, such as the launch of Alan Gilbert's first two seasons as Music Director, Composer-in-Residence, CONTACT!, conductor-conceived festivals, and Artist-in-Residence, in addition to handling sensitive news and strategic announcements and aspects of key sponsor relationships. She has focused on the rapid evolution of the media and public relations and communications practices, keeping the department in a leadership position, industry-wide. Prior to joining the New York Philharmonic, Ms. Johnson held positions in the public relations department of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and at Shuman Associates.
 
Katie Klenn joined the New York Philharmonic Communications department in March 2008, coming from the League of American Orchestras. She has been an integral part of the department, managing a long list of daily tasks including media clips, organizing and disseminating photography and video, arranging radio and television interviews, overseeing the copious communications details of the Philharmonic's Concerts in the Parks, and many other concurrent projects and tasks. Ms. Klenn has taken on media relations endeavors, supported key sponsor relationships, and has drawn on an international background to assist with touring and diplomacy. In her new role she will be the primary contact on the day-to-day management of all communications aspects of the Philharmonic's touring, with an emphasis on sponsor relations.
 
Amanda Conte joins the Communications department in the position of Communications Assistant. Most recently Amanda worked at Widmeyer Communications, a public relations agency in New York City, working with such clients as the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Channel Thirteen. She has interned in the public relations departments of Lincoln Center Inc., supporting its Lincoln Center Out of Doors series, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center; she has also been a community reporter for The New York Times Company. A graduate of Seton Hall University, Ms. Conte has a bachelor of arts in communication: journalism/public relations and a minor in musical performance for voice.