Lincoln Center Taps Vin Cipolla to Help Rebuild David Geffen Hall

Vin Cipolla, who has served in leadership roles across significant public and private organizations including, most recently, the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), has been appointed Executive Director, David Geffen Hall Campaign, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, it was announced today by Jed Bernstein, President, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

In this newly created position, Cipolla will lead Lincoln Center Inc.'s portion of the effort to rebuild David Geffen Hall. He will be working closely with Lincoln Center Inc.'s partners on the project, the New York Philharmonic, as well as with Tamar Podell, Lincoln Center's Executive Vice President of Planning and Development, responsible for annual fundraising.

Lincoln Center's fundraising initiative supporting the complete transformation of Avery Fisher Hall, which will be renamed David Geffen Hall this September, is home to the New York Philharmonic, and the setting for many of Lincoln Center's own presentations.

Commented Mr. Bernstein, "Vin's deep knowledge of the philanthropic community, his extensive experience with some of the country's major cultural institutions, and broad financial background will be invaluable to this important initiative. His collaborative approach to strategic fundraising and creative project development also will be an enormous asset as we move ahead in reimagining one of the world's leading concert halls."

The comprehensive renovation and re-imagination of the concert hall will be undertaken in close collaboration between Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic. The project is scheduled to begin construction in 2019 at an estimated cost of $500 million. In addition to serving as the home for the New York Philharmonic, which has performed there since it opened in 1962, the reimagined concert hall will be designed to inspire innovations in how audiences enjoy music for years to come, and also will house the Avery Fisher Classical Music Wing of the new Lincoln Center Hall of Fame, a first-of-its-kind institution celebrating all aspects of the performing arts and film.

Cipolla comes to Lincoln Center following a distinguished career serving as chairman, president or CEO of public and private organizations in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston and London. Most recently he partnered with architect and designer David Rockwell to create RGV, an innovative venture company in media technology and hospitality.

In early 2009, Cipolla became President of the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), where he founded the MAS Summit for New York City, now the city's leading annual urban design conference. He also was a founder of the Alliance for a New Penn Station and was the founder of the Committee for Urban Entrepreneurship (CUE).

Previously, he was President and CEO of the National Park Foundation where he led the largest fundraising effort in the history of the Foundation. Following this post, he continued as the Foundation's Chairman.

In addition to his non-profit experience, Cipolla also has worked extensively in the corporate world, including at Fidelity Investments. He is a seasoned entrepreneur having founded and sold a number of companies including Cipolla Group, the global digital consulting company Pamet, HNW, a leading digital firm focused exclusively on high-net-worth wealth management marketing, and Cipolla + Studio for Good, a consulting and technology company focused on the nonprofit sector. He began his career at Avon and Warner Communications.

He has served on a number of national non-profit and corporate boards including serving as Chairman and President of the Board for Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) during the development of the museum's stunning new building. He currently is a trustee for the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy, Sailors for the Sea, Ballet Hispanico, and the Public Art Fund, in addition to the Municipal Art Society.

Cipolla is a graduate of Clark University.

Avery Fisher Hall, designed by Max Abramovitz, was the first building to open on the Lincoln Center campus. Originally known as Philharmonic Hall, it has been home to storied performances by the New York Philharmonic, as well as other renowned orchestras and soloists, for more than five decades. In 1973 it was named for the late audio pioneer, Avery Fisher, a New York Philharmonic board member. Last November, in a landmark philanthropic gesture, the children of Avery Fisher entered into an agreement with Lincoln Center to enable the renaming of Avery Fisher Hall. Earlier this year, music and media executive and philanthropist David Geffen gave Lincoln Center a $100 million gift to lead the transformation of the iconic hall.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) serves three primary roles: presenter of artistic programming, national leader in arts and education and community relations, and manager of the Lincoln Center campus. A presenter of more than 3,000 free and ticketed events, performances, tours, and educational activities annually, LCPA offers 15 series, festivals, and programs including American Songbook, Avery Fisher Artist Program, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Midsummer Night Swing, Martin E. Segal Awards, Meet the Artist, Mostly Mozart Festival, and the White Light Festival, as well as the Emmy Award-winning Live From Lincoln Center, which airs nationally on PBS. As manager of the Lincoln Center campus, LCPA provides support and services for the Lincoln Center complex and 11 resident organizations: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the School of American Ballet and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, go to aboutlincolncenter.org.

Photo Credit: Municipal Arts Society of New York