Jean Davidson News

Artistic Director Grant Gershon and President & CEO Jean Davidson announce the 2016-17 season of the Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), one of the world's foremost professional choruses noted for its adventurous programming and artistic excellence, at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Under the artistic leadership of Gershon, the choir's 53rd season includes an ambitious blend of choral masterworks, engaging premieres, a cappella offerings and collaborations with some of today's leading artistic visionaries to create immersive musical experiences. The programming embraces the LA Master Chorale's distinguished history, while building upon its legacy of expanding the choral repertoire by commissioning new works and championing rising and established composers.

New York Arts Executive Jean Davidson, who has been affiliated with some of the country's most innovative and successful arts organizations, has been named President & CEO of the Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), the nation's largest professional chorus and Walt Disney Concert Hall resident chorus led by Artistic Director Grant Gershon and heralded around the globe for its unparalleled artistry, announces LAMC Chair David Gindler. She assumes the post on August 31, 2015. Davidson has served since 2011 as Executive Director & CEO of New York Live Arts, an internationally acclaimed interdisciplinary performing arts center under the artistic direction of Bill T. Jones. Guiding its phenomenal growth and success since its inception, she was instrumental in leading the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company through its merger with Dance Theater Workshop to create New York Live Arts, a new model of artist-led, producing and presenting arts organization unique in the United States. Today New York Live Arts, noted for commissioning cutting-edge new works, its vibrant community partnerships and as home base for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, presents more than 100 performances annually in its theater and studios inside its 20,000-square-foot facility in Chelsea, operating with a $5.8 million budget. Davidson is cited for her forward-thinking management style, fostering artistic innovation, developing and expanding creative partnerships with disparate educational and cultural organizations, and overseeing tremendous revenue development and programmatic growth. She previously served as Executive Director of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company in New York City for six years prior to the merger, when the company launched two successful initiatives entitled Partners in Creation and Partners in Education; Managing Director of The Silk Road Project, Inc., a non-profit arts and cultural organization founded by cellist Yo-Yo Ma which during her tenure commissioned 25 chamber works, launched a worldwide tour, released three recordings; and Production Administrator for the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. Davidson replaces LAMC President & CEO Terry Knowles, who steps down at the end of the season following a tremendously successful 15-year tenure with the chorus, during which time the Chorale experienced unsurpassed financial and artistic growth, toured around the world to critical acclaim, released six commercial CDs, created a recording partnership with Decca Classics, and twice received the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming as well as Chorus America's prestigious Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, the nation's highest choral music award. Davidson's appointment comes at a critical time in the Chorale's history, as it is poised to launch its 52nd season and a new period of strategic growth. The national executive search for Knowles' successor was led by Arts Consulting Group, the leading provider of executive search and other services for the arts and culture industry.

New York Live Arts today announced the schedule of its third annual Live Ideas festival, S K Y - Force and Wisdom in America Today, taking place April 15 - 19, 2015. Curated by world renowned visual artist, inventor and performer Laurie Anderson in conjunction with New York Live Arts' Artistic Director Bill T. Jones, the 2015 Live Ideas festival combines the arts and social issues in synergistic ways, activating the New York City community to creatively question the direction of modern culture.

New York Live Arts announced today that Thomas O. Kriegsmann-a New York City based multi-disciplinary producer with over 10 years of experience developing, producing, programming and touring interdisciplinary dance, theater, music and multi-media projects worldwide-will join Live Arts as the Chelsea-based organization's new Director of Programs, beginning November 17, 2014.

Bill T. Jones, Artistic Director, today announced New York Live Arts' presenting season for 2014-2015. The season runs from September 23, 2014 through April 2015 and includes more than 71 performances and events by more than 22 featured artists.

New York Live Arts hosted a light breakfast and media briefing on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, to declare 2014-15 The Year of James Baldwin, which will launch April 23 - 27.Curated by celebrated non-fiction writer Lawrence Weschler, in collaboration with New York Live Arts Executive Artistic Director Bill T. Jones, this five day festival-the second annual Live Ideas-will include lectures, panels, performances and a full range of artistic responses to the enduring pertinence of the work of the American essayist, novelist, playwright and social critic.

New York Live Arts today announced the schedule of its second annual Live Ideas festival, James Baldwin, This Time! taking place April 23 - 27, 2014.

The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, New York Live Arts' resident dance company, today announced the touring programs and productions for the 2013-2014 season, continuing the Company's 30th anniversary celebrations. The Company will perform in 13 cities in three countries over the next 10 months, making their debut at a number of venues across the U.S. and abroad. The tour kicks off with the Company's debut at the Festival de Marseille, in Marseille, France, on June 19 with a residency and performances of Play and Play: an Evening of Movement and Music. Other touring programs of the 2013-2014 season include A Rite, with Anne Bogart's SITI Company; Story/Time; Body Against Body; and /Time: Study I, a new site-specific work.

New York Live Arts' Executive Artistic Director, Bill T. Jones, presents Live Ideas, the latest program initiative for the Chelsea-based organization that has become an internationally recognized destination for innovative movement-based artistry and artists actively engaged with the political, intellectual and cultural currents of our times. Taking place each spring, Live Ideas will concentrate on a different theme, explored through conversation and artistic presentations over several days. The inaugural festival, taking place today, April 17th through Sunday, April 21st, 2013 at New York Live Arts is themed The Worlds of Oliver Sacks.

New York Live Arts' Executive Artistic Director, Bill T. Jones, today announced the creation of Live Ideas, the latest program initiative for the Chelsea-based organization that has become an internationally recognized destination for innovative movement-based artistry and artists actively engaged with the political, intellectual and cultural currents of our times. Taking place each spring, Live Ideas will concentrate on a different theme, explored through conversation and artistic presentations over several days. The inaugural festival, taking place Wednesday, April 17th through Sunday, April 21st, 2013 at New York Live Arts is themed The Worlds of Oliver Sacks.

New York Live Arts' Ford Foundation Live Gallery is currently featuring CROWD (for Bill T. Jones), a commissioned, site-specific work by artist Donald Baechler. Before Live Arts visitors enter the theater and third floor studio space, they will encounter Baechler's monumental mural. A large-scale paper collage constructed directly on the wall, the work is on view now through January 2013. Members of the press are invited to the view the work at an opening reception on Tuesday, September 18th, 6:30 - 7:30PM. New York Live Arts' 2012-13 presenting season opens the same night, starting at 7:30pm, with Voices of Strength: Dance and Theater by Women from Africa.

The Arts & Business Council of New York (ABC/NY), a division of Americans for the Arts, will celebrate excellence in arts and business partnerships, arts management, and business volunteerism in the arts at the 46th Annual Encore Awards on Tuesday, May 24, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at The Riverside Theatre in Harlem.