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

League’s Flagship Professional Development Program Will Take Place in New York City at Juilliard’s Lincoln Center Campus

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 24-August 2, 2024, is presented in collaboration with Juilliard Extension and will take place in New York at Juilliard’s campus at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

“Essentials of Orchestra Management is one of the League’s most beloved and important programs. With hundreds of graduates from Essentials working in orchestras across the country, it is the gold standard of career advancement for early and mid-career leaders in our field,” said League of American Orchestras President and CEO Simon Woods. “But it goes beyond professional development—it’s also a forum for discussing the issues of the day and working together to chart the future for orchestras in a complex world. The inspiring faculty and Juilliard’s centrally located, historic campus are vital components of the program, but it’s these 36 participants who add so much to the conversations, finding common ground amidst diverse backgrounds and perspectives.”

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 600 individuals have participated in the program. Now in its 24th 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 leadership; development, finance, and strategic planning; equity, diversity, and inclusion; education, community engagement, and youth programs; human resources and organizational culture; leadership and governance; advocacy, marketing, and communications; digital and electronic media; orchestra operations; and negotiations. The program also includes two Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center concerts and a tour of David Geffen Hall, as well as peer discussions, mentoring opportunities, and a special breakout on Women in the Arts Field.

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

Faculty Leadership:

Scott Faulkner (Faculty Director), Principal Bassist, Reno Philharmonic and Reno Chamber Orchestra; Former Executive Director, Reno Chamber Orchestra; Director, League Alumni Network

Laura Reynolds, Vice President, Impact and Innovation, San Diego Symphony

John McCann, Founder and President, Partners in Performance

League Leadership:

Simon Woods, President and CEO

Caen Thomason-Redus, Vice President, Inclusion and Learning

David Styers, Director, Learning and Leadership Programs

Juilliard Leadership:

John-Morgan Bush, Dean of Juilliard Extension, The Juilliard School

Alex Jackson, Special Projects Coordinator, The Juilliard School

Isabella Wang, Operations Lead, The Juilliard School

Guest Faculty:

Lisa Brown Alexander, President and CEO, Nonprofit HR

Jennifer Barlament, Executive Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Deborah Borda, Executive Advisor, New York Philharmonic; Non-Executive Chair, Intermusica; Founder, BordaArts

Michelle Miller Burns, CEO, The Minnesota Orchestra

Lee Bynum, Board Chair, The Dream Unfinished: An Activist Orchestra

Sara Cutler, President, Local 802, AFM

Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director, Carnegie Hall

Phil Gutierrez, Assistant Director of Production, New York Philharmonic

Doug Hagerman, Immediate PastBoard Chair, League of American Orchestras

Jonathon Heyward, Music Director, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Chief Conductor, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie; Renée and Robert Belfer Music Director, Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center

Rei Hotoda, Music Director and Conductor, Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra

Joe Kluger, Principal, WolfBrown

Alex Laing, President and Artistic Director, Gateways Music Festival

Najean Lee, Director,Government Affairs and Education Advocacy, League of American Orchestras

Katie McGuinness, Chief Artistic Officer, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Anwar Nasir, Executive Director,Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Kim Noltemy, President and CEO, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Doris Parent, Chief Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Strategies (IDEAS) Officer, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc.

Jessica Phillips, Musician, Metropolitan Opera

Faith Raiguel, Former CFO, LA Opera; Current Board Service: Ojai Music Festival, Silk Road

Vanessa Rose, Executive Director, American Composers Forum

Paul Scarbrough, Principal, Akustiks, LLC

Alexa Smith, Associate Artistic Director, The Public Theater

Bill Thomas, David Geffen Hall Project Executive, New York Philharmonic

Maarten Walraven, Co-CEO, Symphony Media

Michelle Zwi, Director of Orchestra Operations and Touring, Philadelphia Orchestra

The 2024 Essentials of Orchestra Management cohort is comprised of professionals and volunteers working at American, Canadian, and Nigerian orchestras, conservatories, and arts organizations, as well as career-changers interested in exploring orchestra management positions. Participants include:

Rosalyn Aninyei, Founder/Artistic Director, Vesta Orchestra and Opera Foundation (Nigeria)

Guiomar Blanco, Head of European Strategy, Arabella Arts; Advisory Council and Artistic Committee Member, OAcademy (Orchestra of the Americas Group) (Spain)

Lindsay Calmes, Senior Patron Engagement Manager, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Gabriela Garza Canales, Director of Seattle Conservatory of Music, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (WA)          

Sandy Choi, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications, DC Youth Orchestra Program          

Rich Coburn, Senior Manager, Community Partnerships and Repertoire Diversity, National Arts Centre Orchestra (Canada)

Julienne Cormier, Marketing and Communications Director, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute  (PA)

Brandy Crawford, Co-founder, Secretary of the Board, Personnel Manager, Operations Manager, Symphony847 (IL); Director At Large, Personnel Manager, Kenosha Symphony Orchestra (WI); Secretary of the Board, Lake Geneva Symphony (WI)

Rachel Crozier, Executive Director, Hudson Valley Symphony Orchestra (NY)            

Dan Dardon, Manager of Visiting Faculty and Musician Advancement, New World Symphony (FL)         

Maria Kiamesso DaSilva, incoming MBA student, University of Michigan

Virginia Evans, Chief Operating Officer, Reno Philharmonic (NV)     

Michael Finley, Executive Director, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra (TX)            

Mariah Forde, Director of Marketing and Communications, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra             

Chason Goldschmitz, Director of Production, Music, and Arts & Health, Office of Renée Fleming (NJ)

Madison Hookfin, Academy Program Manager, Columbus Symphony Orchestra (OH)

Adarsh Kumar, Director of Orchestra Personnel, The Juilliard School (NY)   

Andrew Lee, Executive Director, Washington Conservatory of Music

Joohyun Lee, Senior General Management Associate, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (NY)

Sarah McDonner, Executive Director, ECHO (TX)

Kathryn Marks, Director of Learning & Community, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (MI)

Cameron Massey, Executive Director/CEO, Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra (MI)

Emily Miclon, Development Manager, New Haven Symphony Orchestra (CT)

Jane Morrison, Advisory Council Chair, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (GA)

Hannah Muzzi, Learning Programs Associate, The Cleveland Orchestra (OH)

Courtney Normandin, Digital Marketing Manager, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (FL)

Sam Pavel, Director of Operations, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

Jacob Pope, Executive Director, Chamber Orchestra of the Springs (CO)

Kelly Racicot, Manager, Family and Youth Programs, National Arts Centre Orchestra (Canada)             

Hannah Reffett, Marketing Manager, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (MO)

Silvia Regalado-Zachlod, Executive Director, Napa Valley Youth Symphony (CA)

Anna Royzman, Director of Performance Activities, Preparatory Division, The Juilliard School (NY)

James Shamblin, Operations and Annual Fund Manager, West Virginia Symphony

Sarah Thrall, Director of Artistic Operations, Lexington Philharmonic (KY)

Caroline Wittschen, Client Regulatory Analyst, Wellington Management Company LLP (MA)

Thomas J. Zera, Executive Director, Boise Baroque Orchestra (ID)              

Hashtag: #Essentials2024

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