Sarah Thrall of the Lexington Philharmonic One of Thirty-Six Professionals Selected to Attend League of American Orchestras’ Essentials of Orchestra Management Program
Press Contact:
Michaela Bowman, Marketing & Communications Manager
marketing@lexphil.org
Lexington, KY – Sarah Thrall, Director of Artistic Operations of the Lexington Philharmonic 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 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.”
LexPhil Executive Director Brooke Raby says, “As LexPhil continues to reimagine the role of the orchestra in the 21st century, we are so excited that one of our key staff members has this opportunity to learn and share ideas with colleagues working toward the same goals.”
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 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, Juilliard
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 Past Board 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 Renee Fleming (NJ)
Madison Hookfin, Academy Program Manager, Columbus Symphony Orchestra (OH)
Adarsh Kumar, Director of Orchestra Personnel, The Juilliard School (NY)
Andrew Lee, Artistic/Executive Director, DC Strings Workshop
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.
About the Lexington Philharmonic
The Lexington Philharmonic’s mission is to foster excellence and innovation in the performance and presentation of great music; to enrich the lives of our diverse citizenry; to educate current and future audiences and to bring distinction to our community through the orchestra’s presence and standing. Find more information at lexphil.org. The Lexington Philharmonic is supported by the Lexington Philharmonic Foundation, LexArts, the Kentucky Arts Council, and the Hamilton Saykaly Garbulinska Fund. The Singletary Center for the Arts hosts the core of LexPhil’s Season programs and is a valued institutional partner of the Lexington Philharmonic. Special thanks to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for its continued partnership in ensuring a flourishing future for the arts in Lexington and central Kentucky.
About the League of American Orchestras
The League of American Orchestras champions the vitality of music and the orchestral experience, supports the orchestra community, and leads change boldly. The only national organization dedicated to orchestras and their communities, the League supports the field through advocacy, research, convenings, leadership development, artistic programs, and grants. Founded in 1942 and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League includes nearly 25,000 musicians, conductors, orchestra staff, board members, volunteers, and business partners working within our membership of 1,600 world-renowned orchestras, community groups, summer festivals, student and youth ensembles, conservatories and libraries, businesses serving orchestras, and individuals who love symphonic music.
###
Read the PDF version here. Read the League of American Orchestra’s press release here.
###