36 Orchestra and Arts Professionals to Participate in League of American Orchestras' Essentials of Orchestra Management Program

An international cohort of thirty-six orchestra and arts professionals will participate in Essentials of Orchestra Management, the League of American Orchestras’ premier leadership development program. The ten-day program, running from July 26-August 4, 2023, is presented in collaboration with Juilliard Extension and will take place in New York at Juilliard’s Lincoln Center Campus.

"Creating pathways for future leaders is central to the League's work," said League of American Orchestras President and CEO Simon Woods. "But Essentials is so much more than just a learning environment — it's a place of highly creative thinking where the leaders of today and the future can tackle together some of the challenges and opportunities orchestras are facing. And when we add in the great faculty and Juilliard's inspiring location, we're guaranteed to get some really thought-provoking conversations."

America’s flagship program for early- and mid-career orchestra and arts professionals, Essentials of Orchestra Management offers a pathway to future leadership and career success; since its inception in 2000, more than 550 individuals have participated in the program. Now in its 23rd year, Essentials connects, inspires, and challenges tomorrow’s leaders, providing them the knowledge they need to enhance their careers.

Topics will include artistic planning and artistic leadership; development, finance, and strategic planning; equity, diversity, and inclusion; education, community engagement, and community and youth programs; human resources and organizational culture; leadership and governance; advocacy, marketing, and communications; orchestra operations; and negotiations. The program also includes concerts of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and a tour of David Geffen Hall, as well as peer discussions and mentoring opportunities.

This year’s seminar is taught and directed by a faculty comprised of expert leaders of the orchestra field and beyond, including:

Core Faculty: 
Scott Faulkner (Faculty Director) Principal Bassist, Reno Philharmonic and Reno Chamber Orchestra; Former Executive Director, Reno Chamber Orchestra; Director, League Alumni Network
Jennifer Barlament, Executive Director, Atlanta Symphony 
Alex Laing, Executive Director, Gateways Music Festival; Principal Clarinetist, The Phoenix Symphony 

League Leadership: 
Simon Woods, President and CEO 
Caen Thomason-Redus, VP, Inclusion and Learning
David Styers, Director, Learning and Leadership Programs

Juilliard Leadership: 
John-Morgan Bush, Dean of Juilliard Extension, Juilliard

Guest Faculty: 

Lisa Brown Alexander, President and CEO, Nonprofit HR 
Marlah Bonner, VP of Development, League of American Orchestras 
Michelle Miller Burns, CEO, The Minnesota Orchestra 
Lee Bynum, Board Chair, The Dream Unfinished: An Activist Orchestra; Chief Education Officer, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts 
Rosina Cannizzaro, Executive Director, Vermont Youth Orchestra Association 
Patrick Castillo, VP Artistic Planning, New York Philharmonic
JoAnn Falletta, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra 
Marc Geelhoed, Executive Producer of Live from Orchestra Hall, Detroit Symphony Orchestra 
Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director, Carnegie Hall 
Gary Ginstling, Executive Director, New York Philharmonic 
Doug Hagerman, Board Chair, League of American Orchestras 
Jonathon Heyward, Music Director Designate, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 
Sarah Johnson, Chief Education Officer, Carnegie Hall 
Joe Kluger, Principal, WolfBrown 
John McCann, Founder and President, Partners in Performance 
Anwar Nasir, Executive Director, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Melissa Ngan, President and CEO, American Composers Orchestra 
Kim Noltemy, CEO, Dallas Symphony Orchestra 
Heather Noonan, VP, Advocacy, League of American Orchestras 
Gary Padmore, VP, Education and Community Engagement, New York Philharmonic 
Doris Parent, Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Strategies (IDEAS) Officer, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc.
Faith Raiguel, Former CFO, LA Opera; Board Member: Idyllwild Arts, Silk Road, Street Symphony 
Bill Thomas, Performing Arts Executive, New York Philharmonic 
Michelle Zwi, Operations and Touring Manager, The Philadelphia Orchestra; Executive Director, Penn Med Symphony Orchestra

The 2023 Essentials of Orchestra Management cohort is comprised of professionals working at American, Canadian, and Danish orchestras, conservatories, and arts organizations, as well as career-changers interested in exploring orchestra management positions. Participants include:

Rebin Ali, Assistant Manager for Corporate Relations, The Kennedy Center
Kathryn Banks, Assistant Manager, Orchestra Operations, National Symphony Orchestra / The Kennedy Center        
Erica Binder, Board Director, Symphony 21 (Vancouver, Canada)
Sinisa Ciric, Director of Artistic Operations/Concertmaster Emeritus, Savannah Philharmonic 
Erin Codey, Executive Director, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra        
Matthew Creek, Pops and Presentations Coordinator, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra    
Megan Delatour, Orchestra Director, Talent Unlimited High School; Artistic Planner, Interschool Orchestras at Third Street (New York City)
Tanya Elia, Executive Director, Central Oregon Symphony     
Peter Eliopoulos, Managing Partner, Helios Innovation Group, EXL; Board Secretary, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra        
Sophia Ennocenti, Program Administrator, Historical Performance, Music Division, Juilliard
Elizabeth Graiser, Manager of Operations and ASYO, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Lorin Green, Seattle Arts Fellow (Education and Community Engagement), Seattle Symphony
Brent Hart, Executive Director, Oklahoma City Philharmonic        
Julia Hosch, Cultural Programs Manager, City of Dallas, Office of Arts & Culture    
Christopher Hotchkiss, Schedule and Administrative Coordinator, Juilliard    
Thea Humphries, Horn Fellow, New World Symphony (Miami); Founder, AudienSync    
David Kiser, Executive Director, Greenville County Youth Orchestras        
Alan Lambert, CEO, Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra        
Sara Beth Lane, Artistic & Education Coordinator, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra 
Marquise Lindsey-Bradley, Marketing Manager, Artcinia; Creative Program Coordinator, Olney Culture Lab 
Daniela Nardi, Interim Executive Director, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir (Toronto, Canada)        
Amanda Norman, VP, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, Winston-Salem Symphony    
Erin Paradis, Interim Executive Director, Boise Philharmonic Association    
Anna Amy Philips, (Former) Project Manager, Copenhagen Philharmonic (Denmark)
Olivia Rainoff, Orchestra Manager, Curtis Institute of Music        
CeCe Salinas, Senior Manager, Marketing and Patron Loyalty, California Symphony Katie Salvatore, Development Officer, Houston Symphony    
Brian Shaw, General Manager, Queer Urban Orchestra (New York City)    
Nick Sico, Vice President of Productions, Columbus Symphony Orchestra 
Matthew Stiens, Operations Manager, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center 
Kelly Swindell, Executive Director, Western Piedmont Symphony 
Brent Taghap, Marketing Assistant, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras; Student Mentor, Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative
Brandon Thomas, Heinz Hall Coordinator, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra    
Catherine Vivo, Chief Operating Officer, Street Symphony (Los Angeles)    
Pamela Wardell, Executive Director, Ocala Symphony Orchestra    
Andrew Wickesberg, Viola, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Essentials of Orchestra Management is made possible by grants from Trish & Rick Bryan, 25th Century Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

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 1,800 organizations and individuals across North America runs the gamut from world-renowned orchestras 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 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.

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