League Announces Emerging Leaders Program Participants

By: Nov. 16, 2017
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Twelve orchestra professionals will participate in the League of American Orchestras' Emerging Leaders Program. Viewed by the orchestral field as one of the best sources of identifying and training talented senior managers with great potential, the program is the flagship of the League's leadership development offerings. Along with its previous iteration, the Orchestra Management Fellowship Program, the Emerging Leaders Program has advanced the development of more than 180 alumni-from current executive directors of orchestras to countless senior executives.

"Identifying and developing orchestral leaders has long been central to our purpose," said Jesse Rosen, President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras. "This program equips high-potential professionals with critical skills and tools for leading in times of rapid and profound change."

Twelve women and men were selected through a competitive application process based on their leadership experience and growth potential; their adaptive capabilities and collaborative skills; their diversity in experience and perspectives; their passion for and commitment to orchestras; and their potential to make a difference and influence the field in the years ahead.

They 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 presentation at the League of American Orchestras' 2018 National Conference in Chicago.

Renowned leadership development expert John McCann is the lead faculty and facilitator of the Emerging Leaders Program. Mary Parish is the program's leadership coach, providing one-one-one coaching for each participant. The 2017-18 Emerging Leaders Program participants are:

  • Nick Adams, Executive Director, Longwood Symphony Orchestra
  • Kathryn Boucher, Executive Director, Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Amy Chung, Associate Director, Houston Youth Symphony
  • Brittany Hall, Executive Director, Binghamton Philharmonic
  • Chris Harrington, Managing Director and Curator, @THE MAX (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
  • Erin Horan, Community Engagement Director, The Florida Orchestra
  • Kate Kammeyer, Orchestra Manager and Director of Community Programs, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
  • Leslie Marks, Development Director, Oakland Symphony
  • Gary Padmore, Director of Education and Community, Orchestra of St. Luke's
  • John Roloff, Director of Operations, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
  • Todd Waldman, Director of Development, Austin Symphony
  • Sonja Winkler, Sr. Director of Operations and Orchestra Manager, Nashville Symphony

Their bios and photos are linked here. Launched in 2014, the Emerging Leaders Program is the newest chapter in the League's history of developing orchestral leaders. Other leadership programs have included the Orchestra Management Fellowship Program, the Executive Leadership Programs, Institutional Vision and Critical Issues programs, American Conducting Fellowship Program, and Essentials of Orchestra Management.

The 2016-17 class of the Emerging Leaders Program included Nora Brady, Associate Director, Sales and Marketing, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Benjamin Cadwallader, Executive Director, Vermont Symphony Orchestra; Susan Lape, Executive Director, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (was Executive Director, Lake Forest Symphony when she participated); Elisabeth Madeja, Director of Marketing, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; David Renfro, Director of Operations, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (was Orchestra Personnel and Operations Manager when he participated); 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; and Randy Wong, Executive Director, Hawaii Youth Symphony.

The inaugural 2014-16 class of the Emerging Leaders Program included Caleb Bailey, Executive Director, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra (was Orchestra Manager Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra, Nebraska, when he participated); Jennifer Barton, Chief Strategy Officer, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (was Individual Giving Manager when she participated); Nicholas Cohen, Executive Director, Maryland Citizens for the Arts (was General Manager, OrchKids and Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra when he participated); Bradley Evans, Assistant Orchestra Personnel Manager, San Francisco Symphony; Yoo-Jin Hong, Director, Learning and Leadership Programs, League of American Orchestras (was Director of Civic Orchestra and Training Programs Chicago Symphony Orchestra when she participated); and Rebecca Zabinski, Artistic Administrator, Houston Symphony (was Artistic Associate when she participated).



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