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Anne Parsons Leadership Program

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 cohort! The Anne Parsons Leadership Program is designed to build greater gender diversity in leadership roles in the country’s 50 largest-budget orchestras. The program aims to advance a new generation of candidates with the capacity to take on C-suite roles in major orchestras as well as building a culture of mentorship, coaching, and support across the orchestra field. For the June 2025 to June 2026 program, six participants were selected based on their demonstrated experience, vision for the field, and commitment to leading and serving American orchestras.

An initiative from the League of American Orchestras, the program honors Anne Parsons, the transformative orchestra field leader and mentor who passed away in 2022.

Read the latest press release.

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2025-2026 Cohort

This year’s cohort includes:

  • Rebecca Cain, Vice President of Operations, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
  • Felice Doynov, Associate Dean of Visiting Faculty and Orchestra, New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy
  • Mitsuko Flynn, Chief Operating and Impact Officer, Charleston Symphony
  • Emily Fritz-Endres, Executive Director, Albany Symphony
  • Amy Heald, Executive Director, The Reno Chamber Orchestra
  • Jessica Ruiz, Director, KD SCHMID US

About the Program

Anne Parsons was a giant in the orchestra field. An institutional and civic leader of tremendous vision and presence, Anne was known across the orchestra profession as someone who led from culture – and it was through cultural transformation that she brought the Detroit Symphony Orchestra out from its darkest days to being one of the country’s most vibrant orchestral institutions.

Anne was beloved by those who knew and worked with her, but above all she was a role model to women on their journey to leadership positions, and to those already in leadership positions who aspired to her level of skill, finesse, and deep authenticity.

To honor Anne’s life and legacy as a transformational leader and mentor, the League has established the Anne Parsons Leadership Program.

The Anne Parsons Leadership Program is designed to build greater gender diversity in leadership roles in the country’s 50 largest-budget orchestras: 70% of larger orchestras currently have men as executive directors. Research shows that as well as creating fair opportunities for all, gender diversity at senior levels in organizations improves decision-making and performance, strengthens organizational culture, and enhances creativity. The program aims to advance a new generation of candidates with the capacity to take on C-suite roles in major orchestras as well as building a culture of mentorship, coaching, and support across the orchestra field. Participation in the program is free of charge.

For the June 2025-to June 2026 program, six participants have been selected based on their demonstrated experience, vision for the field, and commitment to serving American orchestras. Eligible candidates had either a minimum of five years of professional experience in the orchestra field or were currently in an executive leadership role in orchestras or comparable music organizations, including music festivals and arts organizations.  

Each participant will receive a travel stipend and free registration to the League’s National Conference in 2025, as well as a gratis, one-year professional membership to the League of American Orchestras.

Program Outcomes

After completing the Anne Parsons Leadership Program, participants will be able to:  

  • Apply their leadership skills and mindset to advance towards or take on an executive leadership role in an American orchestra
  • Utilize emergent and responsive leadership skills in advancing critical issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the orchestra field
  • Identify, analyze, and offer creative solutions to key strategic challenges in the evolving orchestra field
  • Advance orchestras as diverse, inclusive, and innovative organizations, while fulfilling their unique role in the cultural context of their communities
  • Thrive in an environment of evolving and competing imperatives as orchestras respond to the issues of our place and time and envision the future
  • Be an active member of a growing inclusive network of peers, mentors, and resources for continued professional development

2025-2026 Program Components

Program participation for June 2025 through June 2026 will include:

  • June 11-13, 2025, League National Conference in Salt Lake City, UT
  • Leadership Training
  • Leadership Strengths and Styles Coaching
  • Bimonthly Cohort Meetings
  • Bimonthly Conversations with Mentors
  • Quarterly Leadership Forums
  • Program and Self-Evaluations

Program participation is free. In addition, each participant will receive a travel stipend and free registration to the League’s National Conference to convene and to contribute their insights to the national debate. Participants will benefit from networking opportunities supported by the mentors, and the whole cohort’s profile will be promoted on a national level. Program participants will receive a one-year professional membership to the League of American Orchestras.

Participants are expected to commit to and participate in all sessions and associated events from June 2025 through June 2026. Partial participation is not permitted.

Mentoring and Faculty Team

The 2025-2026 mentoring team will include:

The 2025-26 faculty team will be announced soon.

League staff:

Who was Eligible to Apply?

The Anne Parsons Leadership Program is an orchestra leadership program that welcomes applications from women and nonbinary individuals who have either 5 years of professional experience in the orchestra field or are currently in an executive leadership role in orchestras or comparable music organizations (including music festivals and arts organizations). 

The program serves professionals who want to serve in executive leadership roles and those who want to move up in their executive leadership. Examples of women or nonbinary individuals who could benefit from this program include:

  • Current orchestra executive leaders with the motivation to advance to a larger-budget organization
  • Individuals who aspire to their first C-suite role in an American orchestra and have demonstrated orchestral leadership initiative (participating in leadership training opportunities, taking lead on collaborative projects, etc.)
  • Alumni of the League’s longstanding leadership programs (Emerging Leaders Program, Essentials of Orchestra Management, and Orchestra Management Fellowship Program)
  • Orchestral musicians looking to transition into administrative orchestral leadership roles
  • Leaders and aspiring leaders who have a successful track record of at least 5 years employment in orchestras or comparable music organizations (including music festivals and arts organizations) and wish to progress on a path to lead an American orchestra

For the June 2025 to June 2026 program, six participants will be selected based on demonstrated experience, vision for the field, and commitment to leading and serving American orchestras. All applicants, whether accepted to the Anne Parsons Leadership Program or not, will receive a one-year professional membership to the League of American Orchestras. The League especially encourages applicants from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in the orchestral field.

2023-2024 Cohort

The initial cohort was comprised of:

2023-2024 Mentoring and Faculty Team

The Anne Parsons Leadership Program was conceived by the League in coordination with a group of four large-budget orchestra leaders who served as mentors for the 2023-24 program:

2023-24 Faculty:

More Information

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Questions?

For additional information, please contact Heather Briere at hbriere@americanorchestras.org.

The Anne Parsons Leadership Program is made possible by generous support from Patricia A. Richards and Colbert Artists Management.

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