Orchestra of St. Luke's Names New President & Executive Director

Orchestra of St. Luke's is pleased to announce the appointment of James Roe as its new President & Executive Director. Roe has served as President & CEO of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 2013. At OSL, he will guide the future direction of one of America's most distinguished orchestras and its home, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music.

"Taking this role feels like coming home for me. In many ways, it is a unique fit," said Roe, a former professional oboist who performed often with OSL for 20 years. His first and last concerts at Carnegie Hall were performances of Bach's St. Matthew Passion with the orchestra. "OSL's artistic integrity and versatility have earned international distinction; its numerous artistic partnerships make it a vital part of cultural life in New York City; and The DiMenna Center is an unparalleled resource for the city's classical music sector in what is fast becoming a vibrant, revitalized neighborhood. It is a great honor to be selected to lead this organization that I hold in such high regard."

Roe has highlighted several major areas of focus, including strengthening and expanding OSL's artistic partnerships; deepening the positive impact of The DiMenna Center on the orchestra's mission; and extending the reach of OSL's Education & Community programs on its Hell's Kitchen neighborhood and the city at large.

"Jim's vision for the role an orchestra can play in its community, his executive skills and experience, and his special relationship with OSL made him the clear choice as our next President," says OSL Board Chairman Norman Benzaquen. "His ambition matches that of the organization, and our board looks forward to working with Jim to achieve the goals he has outlined for OSL."

"St. Luke's has found a talented and enthusiastic leader in Jim Roe," says Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado. "I am thrilled to welcome him to the OSL family and am confident that he will be an excellent partner in paving the way for our orchestra's continued artistic successes."

"Jim's innate understanding of what makes OSL such a unique musical organization set him apart," says OSL Artistic Advisor and search committee member Charles Hamlen. "He is not only a skilled fundraiser, executive, and visionary, but he also has first-hand experience creating one-of-a-kind artistic moments with our musicians on stage. That combination makes him an exceptionally good fit for our orchestra."

During Roe's tenure, the NJSO increased its philanthropic and corporate support, expanded its cultural partnerships around the state, and enjoyed growth in concert attendance and earned revenue. The orchestra's signature audience-engagement initiative, NJSO Accents, garnered local and national media attention, attracting over 7,000 participants in its first year.

Prior to joining NJSO as CEO, Roe was Executive & Artistic Director of The Helicon Foundation, a New York City chamber music series. Audience growth and expansion of performance activities were hallmarks of his leadership. In his career as an oboist, Roe served as Acting Principal Oboe of the NJSO for two years and performed with numerous New York City orchestras and ensembles, including OSL. He earned his master's degree from The Juilliard School and his bachelor's degree in music from Michigan State University.

Roe joins OSL on December 1, during an exciting 2015/2016 season that includes three concerts at Carnegie Hall-two conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado and one led by Nicholas McGegan; the orchestra's first recording with Heras-Casado for harmonia mundi; U.S. premieres of two compositions by Iván Fischer on the orchestra's Chamber Music Series; and artistic collaborations with Paul Taylor Dance Company, MasterVoices, and Lincoln Center as part of the White Light Festival. Committed to serving Hell's Kitchen, where it opened The DiMenna Center in 2011, OSL will expand programming this year for Youth Orchestra of St. Luke's, which is at the heart of its Education & Community programs.

OSL began the search for its next President & Executive Director in April, when Katy Clark announced that she would step down to become President of BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). PBR Executive Search led OSL's search committee, made up of several board members including OSL Co-Founder & President Emeritus Marianne Lockwood, longtime orchestra supporters, musicians, and staff members.

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