Oklahoma City— Oklahoma City Philharmonic Executive Director Brent Hart is among an international cohort of 36 orchestra and arts professionals selected to 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."
“Music plays an important role in everyday life,” Hart said. “It has a way of reaching deep inside, connecting us with our feelings and emotions, and enhancing every situation. Attending Essentials of Orchestra Management will help me learn and grow in my new role as Executive Director—gaining valuable insights. It will help me grow as an individual, and lead the organization, its team and its musicians to new heights.”
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, over 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 Orchestra
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
Hashtag: #Essentials2023