Speakers

Dr. Durell Cooper (he/him)

Founder and CEO, Cultural Innovation Group

Speaking at Annual Meeting and Re-Envisioning Audiences

Gabriela Lena Frank (she/her)

Composer and Pianist

Speaking at Opening Session and Gold Baton Award

Lee Koonce (he/him)

Former President and Artistic Director, Gateways Music Festival

Speaking at Opening Session and Gold Baton Award

John Mangum (he/him)

Executive Director and CEO, Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, Houston Symphony

Speaking at Opening Session and Gold Baton Award

Dr. Ahmad Sarmast (he/him)

Founder and Director, Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM)

Speaking at Closing Luncheon

Donna Walker-Kuhne (she/her)

President, Walker International Communications Group, Inc

Speaking at Annual Meeting and Re-Envisioning Audiences

Simon Woods (he/him)

President and CEO, League of American Orchestras

Speaking at Opening Session and Gold Baton Award and The AI Disruption is Here!

Mark Bailes (he/him)

Marketing Revenue Manager, Houston Symphony

Speaking at They Are the Future: Building Next-Gen Young Professionals Programs

Mark has been employed by the Houston Symphony since 2018, serving in various roles within the Marketing Department. As Revenue Manager, he oversees pricing and inventory management of subscriptions and single tickets, maintains expense and revenue budgets, and provides support with data analytics.

He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, having completed his MBA in 2022. Raised in Louisiana, his undergraduate degree from McNeese State University was concentrated in political science and mass communication.

Passionate about the performing arts, Mark studied piano for ten years before picking up the saxophone, flute, and clarinet. He is a member of a local saxophone quartet and has also performed with the Houston Pride Band.

In his spare time, Mark can often be seen attending shows in Houston’s robust Theatre District. He also enjoys 19th Century British literature, traveling to new countries, and entertaining friends with dinner parties where he most enjoys serving French cuisine.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn and Instagram

Brian Baxter (he/him)

Executive Director, Quad City Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Orchestrating Community Engagement Through a Multi-Pronged Approach to Audience Development and Inclusion

Brian Baxter is a visionary leader in performing arts and education with 15+ years of experience developing effective programs, fundraising for them through cultivation and stewardship, creating meaningful community partnerships around them, and strategically managing organizational human and financial resources to sustain them. Brian proudly serves as Executive Director for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) located in Davenport, Iowa. Since 2018, Brian has led steady growth for the QCSO by amplifying its artistic programs and broadening its educational experiences.

His roots in music run deep, with his professional career originating in Chicago where he co-founded the Chicago Composers Orchestra, leading it for eight years. Concurrently, Brian devoted nearly a decade to the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, shaping the next generation of musicians. Brian holds degrees in music composition from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts (M.M.) and Illinois Wesleyan University (B.M.), complemented by a minor in Business Administration.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn and Instagram

Christina Bellevue (she/her)

Senior Marketing Manager, National Arts Centre

Speaking at Reimagining Customer Relationships

Christina Bellevue is a Senior Marketing Manager at the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa, Canada, leading the marketing efforts for the NAC Orchestra (NACO), Popular Music and Variety shows, and the Arts Alive educational initiatives. Her professional background includes pivotal roles in sales and brand management at Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal. Before joining the NAC, Christina was a Senior Account Director at Ethnicity Matters, an award-winning multicultural advertising and marketing agency based in Toronto, leading campaigns for top tier Canadian and international clients including CBC/Radio-Canada and GoDaddy. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Christina is the author of A Black Traveler’s Guide to Japanese Beauty and the founder of “Stay Pretty in Any Country,” an innovative publishing venture that champions global Black beauty with unique beauty guidebooks designed for Black expats and travelers worldwide.

Connect with Christina on LinkedIn and Instagram

Elizabeth Blaufox (she/her)

Director of Promotion, Boosey & Hawkes

Speaking at At 250, What is American Music Anyway?

Elizabeth Blaufox is Director of Promotion at Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers. A specialist in 20th-century and contemporary music, Blaufox oversees promotion of the Boosey & Hawkes catalog for North and South America, and manages the B&H New York roster of composers, which includes Gabriela Ortiz, John Adams, Steve Reich, Anna Clyne, Courtney Bryan, Steven Mackey, and many others. In 2023, B&H launched its “America at 250” campaign (boosey.com/America250), highlighting the works of American composers ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. Prior to B&H, Blaufox served as Associate Director of Programs and Promotion at the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music. She has degrees in historical musicology from The City College of New York, and music education with a concentration in oboe from Houghton University.

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn

Alan Brown (he/him)

Managing Principal, WolfBrown

Speaking at Reimagining Customer Relationships

Alan Brown, managing principal of WolfBrown, is a leading researcher and management consultant in the arts and culture sector worldwide. His work focuses on understanding consumer demand for cultural experiences, evaluating support structures for the arts, and helping cultural institutions, foundations and agencies to see new opportunities, make informed decisions and respond to changing conditions. His studies have introduced new vocabulary to the lexicon of cultural participation and propelled the field towards a clearer view of the rapidly changing cultural landscape. He speaks frequently at national and international conferences about trends in cultural participation, innovations in programming, and new approaches to customer relationships.

Connect with Alan on LinkedIn

Mei-Ann Chen (she/her)

Music Director & Artistic Partner, Chicago Sinfonietta, ROCO, and Northwest Sinfonietta

Speaking at ROCO Performance Elective: Women Composers in Concert

Praised for her dynamic conducting style, Taiwanese American conductor Mei-Ann Chen is acclaimed for infusing orchestras with enthusiasm. Music Director of the MacArthur Award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta since 2011, her contract has been extended until 2029. Besides being the Chief Conductor of Austria’s Recreation - Grosses Orchester Graz at Styriarte since 2021, the first-ever Artistic Partner of Houston’s ROCO since 2019 and Artistic Partner with Northwest Sinfonietta (WA) since 2022, Chen is a sought-after guest conductor who recently made her Chicago Symphony Orchestra @ Ravinia Festival debut in addition to appearing with distinguished orchestras throughout the Americas, Europe, and Taiwan (over 150 orchestras). Honors include being named one of the Top 30 Influencers by Musical America (2015); Helen M. Thompson Award from the League of American Orchestras (2012); Taki Concordia Fellow founded by Marin Alsop (2007); and First Prize Winner of the Malko Competition (2005), and ASCAP awards for innovative programming.

Connect with Mei-Ann on LinkedIn and Instagram

Amy Chung (she/her)

Executive Director, Houston Youth Symphony

Speaking at Creative Partnerships to Maximize Youth Learning and Development

Amy Chung joined Houston Youth Symphony (HYS) in 2008 and became Executive Director in 2021. In 2015 she spearheaded the development and launch of Houston’s first El Sistema-inspired program, the HYS Coda Music Program.

Trained as a clarinetist, Ms. Chung holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School at Rice University. Ms. Chung is a 2018 League of American Orchestras Emerging Leaders Program alumnus.

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn and Instagram

Jackson Cooper (he/they)

Adjunct Professor, Arts Leadership, Seattle University, UNC-Greensboro

Speaking at Centering Values, Community, and Belonging in Your Fundraising

Jackson Cooper is an arts leader, fundraiser, writer, and professor. In 2023, he was named one of the Top 30 Arts Professionals by Musical America and “The Future of Arts Fundraising” by Southern Theatre Magazine in 2022, both for his contributions to arts philanthropy. He has served as an arts professional for more than 15 years in arts nonprofit positions in North Carolina, New York, Pittsburgh, and Seattle. Cooper is adjunct faculty at Seattle University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he teaches fundraising and leadership. He has lectured and taught classes for Duke University, North Carolina State University, and The University of Washington.

He is the author of the book A Kid’s Book About Kindness, based on his life and career in philanthropy and is working on a book on fundraising for Columbia Business School Publishing with Hannah Grannemann. He has twice been grant panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and is currently a Member of the national Next Generation Taskforce for Theatre Communication Group.

Connect with Jackson on LinkedIn and Instagram

J. Todd Frazier (he/him)

System Director, Center for Performing Arts Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital

Speaking at Music and Wellness: Optimal Outcomes and Best Practices in Houston’s Texas Medical Center

J. Todd Frazier has spent 30+ years supporting education, research, and accessibility collaborations between education, medicine, and arts & culture communities in America. A composer and graduate from the Eastman and Juilliard Schools of Music, he serves as the Gerald H. Dubin, M. D. Presidential Distinguished Centennial Director in the Art of Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital’s Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM). The Mission of CPAM, now one of the largest and most comprehensive arts in health hospital-based programs in the world, is to effectively translate the collaborative potential of arts and medicine to the holistic healthcare environment of Houston Methodist. Amongst numerous recognitions, the Center has most recently received the 2023 Texas Medal of the Arts Award from the Texas Cultural Trust, “spotlighting Texas leaders who fuel our state’s economy, improve our health and well-being, and enrich our cultural heritage”. For more information: www.houstonmethodist.org/performing-arts/

Jay Gilman (he/him)

Assistant Vice President, CCS Fundraising

Speaking at Engaging the Next Generation in Governance by Establishing an Associate Group

Jay Gilman is an Assistant Vice President with CCS Fundraising. As leading experts in campaign and development strategy, CCS partners with 600+ organizations annually around the world and has served many League members in transformational fundraising efforts. At CCS, Jay has served nearly a dozen nonprofits, including the Nashville Symphony, and is a member of the Gift Planning Practice Group. Prior to CCS, Jay served in various performing arts leadership capacities including as Artistic Director of Minnesota Fringe where he produced one of the Midwest’s largest performing arts festivals alongside year-round programs, and significantly grew individual and institutional fundraising revenues. Jay has served as a grant panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and several state/local arts agencies. He received his interdisciplinary B.A. from Goucher College (where he recently completed a term as alumni association president); and his M.Sc. in Nonprofit Leadership from UPenn.

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn

Kay Sprinkel Grace (she/her)

Founder and Principal, Transforming Philanthropy

Speaking at The New PPP for Boards—Post-Pandemic Pivot with Kay Sprinkel Grace

Kay Sprinkel Grace is a consultant in fundraising and governance. She is the author of seven books, three of which are best sellers (in the nonprofit niche market): Beyond Fundraising, The Ultimate Board Members Book, and The AAA Way to Fundraising Success.

Although she consults across the nonprofit sector – education, health, social services, and more – her passion is the arts. She has worked with orchestras (LA Phil, San Francisco Symphony, SF Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque, Fresno Symphony), museums (SF Fine Arts, SF Asian Art Museum, SFMOMA, Italian American Museum), theater (ACT, Barter Theater in Virginia, Word for Word in San Francisco), dance companies (Smuin, SF Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet), and opera (Santa Fe and New York City Opera). Nationally, she has spoken at conferences for Dance USA and Opera America.

She is past board president and current member of the board of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale.

Connect with Kay on LinkedIn

Lorin Green (she/her)

Community Relations Manager, Seattle Symphony

Speaking at Speaking to Gen Z to Get Them Excited About Your Events

Lorin Green is an arts leader, administrator, flutist, and educator in Seattle, WA. She currently serves as the Community Relations Manager of the Seattle Symphony where she acts as the bridge between the symphony and the community. Recently, she was selected for the League of American Orchestras' Essentials of Orchestral Management Program at Juilliard and also appointed to the League of American Orchestra's inaugural Student Leadership Council. Lorin is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Flute Performance at the University of Washington.

Connect with Lorin on LinkedIn and Instagram

Zachary Gresham (he/him)

Program Manager, Arts in Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Speaking at Music and Wellness: Optimal Outcomes and Best Practices in Houston’s Texas Medical Center

Zachary Gresham is the Program Manager of the Arts in Medicine Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He leads the Arts in Medicine team to connect pediatric patients and their families to music therapy and arts-based programming while receiving treatment. Activities include community collaborations with local arts organizations, large-scale collaborative projects, and one-on-one experiences. These sessions give patients a sense of control and purpose, reduce anxiety and pain, make patients more comfortable in the hospital environment, and build community among patients and families. He has played cello with the Symphony of Southeast Texas since 2009 and occasionally freelances around the Houston area. He has a BA from Lamar University, a certificate in nonprofit leadership from Rice University, and completed his MA in Arts Leadership, M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction in Art Education, and a Master’s in Social Work at the University of Houston.

Connect with Zachary on LinkedIn

Jackson Guillén (he/him)

Coda Music Program Director, Houston Youth Symphony

Speaking at Creative Partnerships to Maximize Youth Learning and Development

Honduran violinist and violist Jackson Guillén is the Director of the El Sistema-inspired Houston Youth Symphony Coda Music Program and Conductor of the HYS Debut String Orchestra. Additionally, Dr. Guillén serves as Professor of violin and orchestra conductor at Lone Star College.

Dr. Guillén has performed in venues in the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, and Chile, and toured several countries of Latin America. He has served as Principal Second Violin and Guest Concertmaster for several orchestras in United States. Jackson plays an important role in the organization of the Encuentro Anual de Cuerdas, a string-focused festival in Honduras. He was a member of the first generation of the Orchestra of the Americas Global Leaders Program.

Dr. Guillén has performed as a guest artist at International Music Festivals in Colombia, Mexico, and United States. Most recently, he was selected for the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Future of Music Faculty Fellowship which addresses underrepresentation in Music School Faculty.

Connect with Jackson on Instagram

Doug Hagerman (he/him)

Board Chair, League of American Orchestras

Speaking at Annual Meeting and Re-Envisioning Audiences

League Board Chair since 2017. Former Board Chair, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Retired attorney and corporate executive. Interested in governance and EDI. Lover of all genres of music.

Ruth Hartt (she/her)

Relevance Strategist, Culture for Hire

Speaking at Rethinking Tradition to Make Your Events More Meaningful, Relevant, and Inclusive with Ruth Hartt

Known for merging powerful perspective shifts with actionable strategies, Ruth Hartt brings a unique blend of expertise to her work as a relevance strategist for arts organizations, leveraging interdisciplinary insights to drive meaningful change.

Drawing on 23 years in the nonprofit sector, including two decades as an opera singer and music educator, Ruth helps organizations rethink strategy through a customer-centric lens.

Ruth's innovative perspective stems from her childhood in blue-collar Maine and her work as a public school music teacher, as well as her experience training and performing as an opera singer. Six years’ immersion in innovative business frameworks at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation has also heavily influenced her approach, along with her experience in nonprofit management.

This breadth of experience has cultivated a distinctly empathetic and inclusive viewpoint, enabling Ruth to connect with and advocate for a wide range of stakeholders in the arts industry.

Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn and Instagram

Carol Herron (she/her)

Periwinkle Arts In Medicine Program Coordinator, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, Texas Children's Hospital

Speaking at Music and Wellness: Optimal Outcomes and Best Practices in Houston’s Texas Medical Center

Carol is the coordinator of the Periwinkle Arts in Medicine Program at the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center at Texas Children’s Hospital.  This program brings performing and creative arts to families receiving treatment at the Cancer and Hematology Center.  She has established relationships and residencies with organizations such as Aurora Picture Show, Houston Center for Photography, Houston Symphony, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Purple Songs Can Fly, Writers In the Schools, Young Audiences of Houston and many other leaders in the art community.  She also coordinates the Making A Mark art show, an annual show featuring art creative writing by children whose lives have been affected by cancer and blood disorders.

Anni Hochhalter (she/her)

French horn player and Executive Director, WindSync

Speaking at Creative Partnerships to Maximize Youth Learning and Development

Born in California and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Anni Hochhalter became interested in chamber music and innovation in the arts after touring as a young musician with ensembles across North America, Europe and Asia. Currently executive director and musician chair of WindSync, she oversees WindSync’s activities as a touring ensemble and as a nonprofit organization, including educational work, concert production, and the Onstage Offstage Chamber Music Festival. Hochhalter is a graduate of Stanford University’s Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship and was recently selected to participant in the Honeywell Artist Academy Resonance Institute. Outside of WindSync, she is principal horn of the McCall Music Festival in McCall, Idaho, and performs on vocals, electronics, and horn with the band Late Aster. Hochhalter studied horn at the University of Southern California with leading studio and orchestral musicians Rick Todd, James Thatcher, and Kristy Morrell, with additional summer training at Chautauqua Music Festival and Texas Music Festival. Based in San Francisco, she enjoys ultra running and backpacking in her spare time.

Connect with Anni on Instagram

Julia Jacobsen (she/her)

Creative Marketing Manager, Boulanger Initiative

Speaking at Speaking to Gen Z to Get Them Excited About Your Events

Julia Jacobsen, a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, is a senior in the Honors College at the University of South Carolina where she studies as a violin performance major under Dr. Ari Streisfeld at the School of Music and as a marketing major at the Darla Moore School of Business. Julia is currently a section violinist for the Aiken Symphony and a substitute violinist for the South Carolina Philharmonic and Long Bay Symphony. She serves as the Creative Marketing Manager for Boulanger Initiative, as a marketer for the USC Symphony and USC School of Music, and a member of the League of American Orchestras Student Leadership Council, among other projects. She has also held summer marketing positions at the Spoleto Festival USA and Interlochen Center for the Arts. Her mission is to bring full diversity, equity, and accessibility to the classical music industry through her performing and arts marketing.

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X

Blake-Anthony Johnson (he/him)

President/CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta

Speaking at Global is Local: The New Music Diplomacy

Arts executive and President & CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta Blake-Anthony Johnson’s initiatives include Artist-in-Residence; expanding the flagship Freeman Fellowship program; creating a collaboration with Chicago’s historical Auditorium Theatre, and the nationally acclaimed ticket program Pay-What-You-Can. He serves as Co-Chair, City of Chicago’s DCASE Cultural Advisory Council; member, League of American Orchestras’ EDI Orchestra Management Committee, and Trustee and Advisory Board, Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, among others. Amongs the former professional cellist’s numerous honors are MusicalAmerica.com’s  2022 Top 30 Professionals of the Year, Chicago Tribune’s 2022 Chicagoan of the Year in Classical Music, and winner, Brevard Music Festival Concerto Competition.

Elisha Johnson (she/her)

Associate Director of Audience Engagement, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at CPR for Growing Audience (Care, Programming, Reinvention)

Elisha Johnson is the Associate Director of Audience Engagement with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO). Before this role, she was an intern with ASO which gave her a spark to pursue a career in arts administration. Elisha is the Co-Chair of The PRIZM Ensemble’s Board of Directors, a music non-profit based in Memphis, TN. In 2022, she was a featured speaker at the Mid-South Music Education Research Symposium at the University of Mississippi. She presented her case study about how PRIZM serves as a model of having BIPOC representation in all aspects of a classical music organization. Elisha is a private French horn teacher and an active freelance performer who is currently a member of the Chromatic Brass Collective. She was born and raised in Memphis, TN, and received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas.

Rainel Joubert (he/him)

Community-Embedded Musician, Houston Symphony

Speaking at Music and Wellness: Optimal Outcomes and Best Practices in Houston’s Texas Medical Center

Cuban-born violinist Rainel Joubert is a laureate of the 15th Annual Sphinx Competition.

He has served as the concertmaster of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and collaborated in musical settings with artists like Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukermman, Claudio Abbaddo, Gustavo Dudamel, among others. Joubert currently serves as the Assistant Concertmaster with the San Antonio Philharmonic and Concertmaster for the Young People Concerts (YPC) and Family Concerts of the same organization.

Joubert also holds a permanent position as a Community-Embedded Musician with the Houston Symphony. Recently, he completed a series of concerts with the Houston Symphony as the featured solo artist. Rainel Joubert is a proud recipient of the 2016 Mpower Artist Grant.

Connect with Rainel on Instagram

Kara LaMoure (she/her)

Bassoonist and Artistic Director, WindSync

Speaking at Creative Partnerships to Maximize Youth Learning and Development

Kara LaMoure is solo bassoonist with WindSync, one of North America’s most active and awarded wind quintets. In addition to a robust touring schedule, LaMoure works as artistic director for the ensemble, presenting a concert series in Houston and the annual Onstage Offstage Chamber Music Festival, which focuses on public accessibility and music education. LaMoure is also a founding member of the Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet, a comedic crossover group known for their web presence and their following among young musicians. She is a prolific arranger of music for chamber winds, and a selection of her arrangements and transcriptions are published by TrevCo Music Publishing. A supporter of global youth orchestra movements, LaMoure has served as the bassoon coach for the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra (Switzerland), YOA Honduras, Esperanza Azteca (Mexico), and Bahia Orchestra Project (Brazil).

Connect with Kara on Instagram

Alecia Lawyer (she/her)

Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Oboist, ROCO

Speaking at At 250, What is American Music Anyway?

Juilliard graduate and Lorée artist, Alecia Lawyer, is the Founder, Artistic Director, and principal oboist of ROCO, Houston’s 40-piece professional chamber orchestra now in its 19th season with musicians and conductors from around the world. With 136 world premiere commissions and live streaming for free to the world since 2013, ROCO has recorded every concert and acquired all rights since 2005 to make available 1000’s of musical tracks for free listening. From this cache of music, ROCO on the Go was created, one of ROCO’s many 'out-of-the-box' initiatives, that places QR codes to ROCO's music along trails in Houston's parks, hospitals, and schools with 55,000 scans and counting. Adopting a “Pay-What-You-Wish” model of ticketing is just one part of the fiscal and access strategies that has led to 95% of ROCO’s revenue coming from donated dollars. In addition, Lawyer herself is a sought after speaker and consultant, sharing her “Wildcatting in the Arts” talk and ideas throughout the US.

Connect with Alecia on LinkedIn and Instagram

Caitlin Lingle Bishop (she/her)

Director of Marketing, Quad City Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Orchestrating Community Engagement Through a Multi-Pronged Approach to Audience Development and Inclusion

Caitlin Lingle Bishop, Director of Marketing at the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, brings over a decade of non-profit management and marketing expertise, significantly impacting audience engagement and ticket sales through innovative digital and community-driven strategies. With Master’s degrees in Arts Administration and Piano Performance/Pedagogy from Florida State University and a Bachelor's in Piano Performance from Furman University, Caitlin has a rich foundation in both the artistic and administrative sides of the performing arts. At the QCSO, she's been pivotal in transitioning marketing to a digital-first approach, enhancing accessibility, and broadening audience reach. She previously served as the Executive Director of the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras and Marketing Manager for Summer Sinfonietta where she honed her commitment to community engagement and making the arts accessible to diverse audiences. Residing in Clemson, SC with her yorkie, Miles, Caitlin enjoys cooking and gardening, grounding her professional role in a rich personal life.

Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn and Instagram

Kirby Lodholz (she/her)

Chair, Young Associates Council, Houston Symphony

Speaking at They Are the Future: Building Next-Gen Young Professionals Programs

Kirby Lodholz serves as Chair of the Houston Symphony’s Young Associates Council, 2023-Present.

Jessica Lustig (she/her)

Managing Director, 21C Media Group, Inc.

Speaking at Global is Local: The New Music Diplomacy

21C Managing Director Jessica Lustig brings a global perspective to 21C through her work with Google, YouTube, the World Economic Forum, the US Dept. of State, Apple Music and other not-for-profits and NGOs in the cultural sector. Among Ms. Lustig’s international marketing and consulting initiatives are conceiving and developing the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, advising the World Economic Forum on cultural leaders for its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, and cultural diplomacy efforts with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music including its evacuation from Kabul and resettlement in Portugal in 2021.

With a degree in music and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at NYU, Ms. Lustig brings a combination of musical knowledge and business acumen to 21C Media Group. She provides strategic planning and consulting services to organizations interested in arts and culture, as well as many of the world’s leading concert artists, musical institutions, and composers.

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn

Albert Martínez-Fernández (he/him)

Budget Manager, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Speaking at Capitalizing on Design Thinking to Advance EDI Through Community Engagement

Albert Martínez-Fernández is an arts and entertainment business strategist, currently working as the Budget Manager for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In this capacity, he plans and executes global financial planning processes and conducts data-intensive analyses for business optimization. Albert is also an Expert-in-Residence in Design Thinking Innovation for the MPA program at NYU. Previously, he launched a new EDI strategic partnership program with Fortune 500 companies for The Metropolitan Opera and held various business and marketing roles across Europe in high-growth startups and multinational corporations within the travel, financial, and technology sectors. Albert has offered guest lectures at Columbia University, NYU, and CUNY, and his contributions have received recognition from the Association of Arts Administration Educators and the “La Caixa” Foundation. Native to Spain, he is fluent in five languages and graduated in arts administration, business, and marketing from NYU, Aarhus University Business School, and Pompeu Fabra University.

Connect with Albert on LinkedIn

John McCann (he/him)

President, Partners in Performance

Speaking at Leaders Building Leaders

John McCann is a consultant, teacher, and facilitator. As founder and president of Partners in Performance, his work focuses on organizational health and culture, innovation and adaptive strategy, and leader development.

He designed and was lead facilitator for the Community Arts Education Leadership Institute from 2010-2020; served as lead faculty and facilitator for the League of American Orchestras’ Orchestra Management Fellowship Program and the Emerging Leaders Program, and currently directs the Rising Leaders program for the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

From 2012-2020, John facilitated Creating a Learning Organization and Leader as Facilitator for the Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Current and recent projects include Miami City Ballet, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Cleveland Institute of Music, Syracuse Stage, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

John serves on the board of the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, and is chair of the board of EmcArts, a social enterprise for innovation and adaptive change in the arts.

Connect with John on LinkedIn

Zoe Miller (she/her)

Associate, Oliver Wyman

Speaking at Analyzing Orchestra Business Models for Strategic Decision-Making

Zoe Miller is an Associate at Oliver Wyman, based in the firm's Houston office. Her project experience includes advising global financial institutions on regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and financial transformation.

Zoe brings a unique perspective to her work shaped by her background as a classical violinist. Prior to joining Oliver Wyman, Zoe performed with numerous orchestras in venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Combining her expertise in both business and the arts, Zoe offers a distinctive blend of analytical thinking and creative problem-solving.

She holds a BA in economics and a BM in violin performance from Rice University, as well as a Master of Music from NYU and a Master of Accounting from Rice University. She maintains an active CPA license.

Connect with Zoe on LinkedIn

Eric Nelson (he/him)

Vice President of Global Partnerships, TRG Arts

Speaking at CPR for Growing Audience (Care, Programming, Reinvention)

Eric Nelson, VP of Global Partnerships at TRG Arts, is proud to partner with performing and visual arts organizations of all shapes and sizes to grow patron participation, revenue, and community impact. Before joining TRG Arts, Eric was Director of Marketing & Communications for New York City’s Kaufman Music Center. He was also Vice President of Client Services, New Business, and Marketing for DCM, specializing in marketing and fundraising strategies for non-profit organizations. Eric started his career in the arts leading marketing efforts for Paul Taylor Dance Company. Eric is proud to be a Board Member of Life Jacket Theatre Company, on the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ (APAP) content planning committee, and the Leadership Board for the League of American Orchestras LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn

Susan Nelson (she/her)

Executive Vice President, TDC

Speaking at Budgeting for Financial Success with Susan Nelson

Susan Nelson, Executive Vice President, has been with TDC since 1987. In her many years with the firm, she has led a wide range of projects that include mergers, strategic business plans, financial restructuring, and facilities planning. Susan’s practice focuses on the complex challenge of aligning an organization’s strategy, implementation plan, and financial sustainability. Her deep financial analysis skills and hands-on operational experience has given her a special expertise in how to scale an organization to an appropriate size while creating a sustainable financial capitalization plan. She has worked with clients of all sizes across the country in such areas as arts and culture, community development, education, and social services.

Susan also works with foundation clients to develop effective granting programs and strengthen their investments in organizations. She is the author of a number of publications about capitalization and the nonprofit arts sector.

Bob Orr (he/him)

Partner, Oliver Wyman

Speaking at Analyzing Orchestra Business Models for Strategic Decision-Making

Bob is a senior partner at Oliver Wyman and leads the firm's Americas Oil & Gas and Renewables practice and Houston office. Bob helps clients build and execute growth strategies and transform their businesses to drive sustainable value. Bob serves as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Board of the Houston Symphony and has supported the symphony over several years including through several pro bono projects executed by Oliver Wyman. He is an aspiring classical guitar player and plays jazz jams sessions with several symphony musicians.

Connect with Bob on LinkedIn

Mark Pemberton (he/him)

Arts Consultant, Mark Pemberton Art

Speaking at Global is Local: The New Music Diplomacy

Mark Pemberton OBE was for 15 years Chief Executive of the Association of British Orchestras, which exists to champion, connect and develop professional orchestras across the UK. After graduating from Oxford University he started his career in arts management as Administrator of professional touring theatre company Quicksilver Theatre for Children, before moving to leading drama conservatoires Drama Centre London as Administrator and Mountview Theatre School as Head of Development & Marketing. Before joining the ABO he was Chief Executive of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, the UK’s representative body for amateur and community theatre, during which time he served as chair of Voluntary Arts England. He was chair of the UK’s National Music Council, which exists to promote the interests of the music sector as a whole, from 2010 to 2022. He was awarded an OBE for services to music in the New Year Honours 2022.

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Vanessa Rose (she/her)

Executive Director, American Composers Forum

Speaking at At 250, What is American Music Anyway?

Vanessa Rose has been the Executive Director of American Composers Forum (ACF) since January 2019, leading the organization's transformation towards greater racial equity and increased advocacy on behalf of living composers. Her previous work has focused on guiding artists and organizations through significant transitions as well, including the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Lark Play Development Center, The Knights collective, the American Composers Orchestra, and Arco Collaborative.

Vanessa’s past administrative experience includes positions at the Metropolitan Opera and League of American Orchestras, plus the League’s year-long Orchestra Management Fellowship Program, which included residencies with the Dallas Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Aspen Music Festival and School, and San Francisco Symphony. She is a Western classical violinist and studied performance at Indiana University, Eastman School of Music (B.M.), Mannes College of Music (M.M), and the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, The Netherlands. Vanessa is mom to two teenagers and loves languages, travel, running, yoga, and biographies.

Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn and Instagram

William Ryan (he/him)

Student Council Member, Worcester Youth Orchestras

Speaking at Speaking to Gen Z to Get Them Excited About Your Events

William Ryan is a young composer and violinist from Worcester, Massachusetts. He attends school at Burncoat Senior High and studies composition under Sam Headrick, violin under Aaron Packard and Chrysanthe Manuel, and piano under Mark Manuel. William is the concertmaster of the Joy of Music Program Orchestra and the Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra and a participant in many chamber ensembles. With each masterwork performed, he became more interested in the theory behind the music and was inspired to make his own. William participated in the 2023 League of American Orchestras Conference, where he spoke as a student panelist. He is now a member of the Student Council.

Roger Sametz (he/him)

Chief Executive Officer, Sametz Blackstone Associates

Speaking at Using Your Brand to Foster Inclusion, Belonging, and Connection

Roger Sametz is CEO and founder of Sametz Blackstone Associates, a Boston-based, brand-focused strategy, content, visual design, and web consultancy. He works with clients to define, articulate, and implement branding, marketing, and fundraising strategies to help them increase awareness and engagement, connect with new audiences, deepen relationships with existing ones, bolster both earned and contributed income, and help all to better navigate change.

Roger serves on both the Board of Advisors and the Corporate Executive Council of WGBH; the Executive Committee of Boston Symphony Orchestra Business Partners; and the Board of Directors, PS21 / Center for Contemporary Performance.

Representative performing arts and presenting clients include: Boston Symphony Orchestra / Tanglewood, Curtis Institute of Music, New Jersey Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, League of American Orchestras, Seattle Symphony, Orchestra Lumos, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Opera, Sun Valley Music Festival, Newport Classical, and Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Roger received both his BA and MFA from Yale University.

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Chelsea Sammons (she/her)

Director of Education and Community Engagement, Quad City Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Orchestrating Community Engagement Through a Multi-Pronged Approach to Audience Development and Inclusion

Chelsea Sammons leads all QCSO education and community programs serving over 30,000 students and community members with inspiring and accessible opportunities to engage with classical music.

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Jamie Leigh Sampson (she/her)

Co-Owner & Composer, ADJ•ective New Music

Speaking at Guiding Community-Driven Collaboration

Jamie Leigh Sampson is a driven and multi-passionate creator who expresses herself as a composer, entrepreneur, author, and bassoonist. For the past fifteen years, she has built a career that serves her musical community through advocacy, research, and ethical publishing practices. Sampson’s compositions explore a range of genres, emotions, and contemporary topics and her work for the Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble was called “transcendentally moving” and “impressionistic, enabling the listener to focus on the beauty, timbre, and nuance of the singing” by the Brooklyn Rail. Jamie has been awarded regional, state, and national grants and awards for her creative work including: Tri-County Arts Council Individual Artist Award (2019), NYFA “Keep New York State Creating” grant (2020), New Music USA Project Grant (2020), and the Alex Shapiro (2022) for her first wind ensemble piece "Ships' Passing. She is the Co-Owner of the publishing entity ADJ•ective New Music.

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Nina Shekhar (she/her)

Composer, Mannes School of Music (The New School), Princeton University

Speaking at At 250, What is American Music Anyway?

Nina Shekhar is a composer and multimedia artist who explores the intersection of identity, vulnerability, love, and laughter to create bold and intensely personal works.

Described as “tart and compelling” (New York Times) and an “orchestral supernova” (LA Times), her music has been commissioned and performed by the New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Eighth Blackbird, International Contemporary Ensemble, and Alarm Will Sound. Her work has been featured by the Hollywood Bowl, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Library of Congress.

Shekhar is on the Composition faculty of Mannes School of Music at The New School. She is currently serving as Composer-in-Residence of The Crossing and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s 2023-2024 Sound Investment Composer. She previously completed her tenure as Composer-in-Residence for Young Concert Artists. Shekhar is a PhD candidate at Princeton University. She is a first-generation Indian American and a native of Detroit, Michigan.

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Andrew Martin Smith (he/him)

Co-owner / Composer, ADJ•ective New Music, LLC

Speaking at Guiding Community-Driven Collaboration

Andrew Martin Smith is a composer, clarinetist, entrepreneur, and educator, having taught at the State University of New York at Fredonia, Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen Online, Bowling Green State University (BGSU), and Owens Community College. He is a founding member of the ADJ•ective Composers’ Collective and an active performer of contemporary music. He currently serves as the General Manager of the Society of Composers, Inc.

Smith has written a variety of compositions for solo instruments, voice, choir, mixed chamber ensembles, wind ensemble, orchestra, and electronic media. Through his music he explores the sonic ramifications of interdisciplinary influence and inspiration, highlighting the similarities shared between several seemingly disparate disciplines, artistic endeavors, and stylistic trends. His compositions have been performed at contemporary music festivals and conferences throughout the United States and Europe, including Electronic Music Midwest, SEAMUS National Conference, the International Computer Music Conference, the SCI National Conference, and the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music’s Annual New Music Festival.

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Michael Smith (he/him)

Executive Director, Charleston Symphony

Speaking at CPR for Growing Audience (Care, Programming, Reinvention)

Michael Smith is driven to advance the artform of orchestral music to be a sustainable and integral part of modern society.

Michael began his tenure with the Charleston Symphony (CSO) as a musician in the orchestra. Following the challenges of the Great Recession, he believed the CSO needed Executive Leadership that matched the passion of its musicians. Smith was appointed Executive Director in 2013. Under his leadership, the CSO completed each year leading up to the pandemic with positive operating results and the CSO became one of the only orchestras in the United States to continue to safely perform symphonic music for live audiences without pause. On the heels of the pandemic, Smith secured a $2M gift that ultimately led to the CSO’s first-ever endowment campaign resulting in $15M raised, securing the organization’s future.

Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2000. Upon graduation, he received the award for Excellence in Brass Performance.

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Nicky Sohn (she/her)

Composer, WindSync

Speaking at Creative Partnerships to Maximize Youth Learning and Development

Selected as one of Houston CityBook Magazine's "Cool 100" alongside icons like Simone Biles and Megan Thee Stallion, composer Nicky Sohn is a versatile talent celebrated across the US, Europe, and Asia. With a distinctive style characterized by jazz-inspired, rhythmically driven themes, Sohn's compositions have earned high praise, being compared to "John Adams' 'Short Ride in a Fast Machine' on steroids" (YourObserver) and celebrated for her "elegant wonder" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung).

Recent highlights include commissions and performances by St. Louis Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, ROCO, Bergamot Quartet, Isidore Quartet, and WindSync. Sohn's music debuted at number one on the Billboard Traditional Classical Albums chart in 2023 with Kinetic Ensemble's album. Upcoming projects feature a guitar concerto for Bokyung Byun with Albany Symphony, a quartet to mark Cavani Quartet's 40th anniversary, and chamber works for the 2024-25 season supported by six grants from Houston Arts Alliance.

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Max Stephenson (he/him)

Operations Manager, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Youth Orchestra

Speaking at Speaking to Gen Z to Get Them Excited About Your Events

Max Stephenson is a senior at Ithaca College majoring in music with an outside field in business with a minor in marketing and concentration in trumpet. Outside of school, he serves as the Operations Manager for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Youth Orchestra (CCOYO) and the World Civic Orchestra (WCO). At the League, Max is a member of the Student Council and the Finance & Advisory Group. Beyond his work in orchestral management, Max is an active trumpet performer and teacher having competed and won scholarships between International Trumpet Guild Conferences and the National Trumpet Competition.

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Bob Swaney (he/him)

Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, RSC Associates

Speaking at Simplifying Planned Giving for Big Results

Bob Swaney is a distinguished national authority on fundraising for arts and cultural organizations. Over nearly 40 years, he has achieved notable success in fundraising management and coaching for some of the nation's most esteemed arts institutions. Bob's expertise lies in establishing sustainable, high-leverage / high-results fundraising initiatives that are strategic, growth-oriented, and donor-centric. His systematic yet straightforward approach proves highly effective across diverse markets and institution sizes.

Since the inception of RSC in 2006, Bob has shared his successful system with hundreds of organizations nationwide, fortifying their philanthropic fundamentals and enhancing revenue results. These collaborations encompass top-tier orchestras, opera companies, arts centers and world-renowned performing arts conservatories.

Favored for his innovative thinking, affable demeanor, and outstanding results, Bob is frequently invited to speak at national conferences, and his success-driven fundraising approaches have been highlighted in a number of prominent national trade publications.

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Josh Tague (he/they)

Director of Marketing & Communications, Omaha Symphony

Speaking at CPR for Growing Audience (Care, Programming, Reinvention)

Josh Tague is Director of Marketing & Communications at the Omaha Symphony and has over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, including nearly a decade in non-profit performing arts. He manages a team of four, oversees strategic marketing initiatives, and ensures revenue goals are met.

Committed to community service, Josh volunteers with organizations like Radio Talking Book Service and College Possible.

In his role with the Omaha Symphony, Josh has achieved notable successes, such as improving website functionality, implementing dynamic, data-driven marketing, and recovering revenue to pre-pandemic levels ahead of schedule. Born and raised in Omaha, he is a University of Nebraska at Omaha graduate with diverse interests, including spending time with his daughter, attending live music events, playing guitar, and contributing to local community development.

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Jacob Tudor (he/him)

Patron Engagement and Crescendo Club Manager, Nashville Symphony

Speaking at Engaging the Next Generation in Governance by Establishing an Associate Group

Jacob joined the Nashville Symphony staff as Patron Engagement Officer in November 2019, returning as Patron Engagement & Crescendo Club Manager in July 2021. A southwest Ohio native, Jacob received his Bachelor of Music degree, Church Music Ministry, from Cedarville University in 2015.  Moving to Nashville for graduate studies in August 2015, he received his Master of Music degree, Classical Violin Performance, from Belmont University in 2017 where he received the President’s Award as the Classical Performer’s Concerto Competition Winner, performing the first movement of Samuel Barber’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14 with the Belmont University Symphony Orchestra. Jacob maintains his passion for performing as violist in Nashville-based La Vie Quartet, frequently performing in live concerts, recording projects, music videos, weddings & events, and more.

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Zak Vassar (he/him)

President & CEO, Toledo Symphony

Speaking at Guiding Community-Driven Collaboration

Zak Vassar began his tenure as President of The Toledo Symphony Orchestra in 2016. In 2019, he successfully led the creation of the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), with the historic merger of the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet. TAPA continues to attract new partners, with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra currently participating in a strategic partnership.

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Michael Webster (he/him)

Artistic Director, Houston Youth Symphony

Speaking at Opening Session and Gold Baton Award

Michael Webster has been Artistic Director of the award-winning Houston Youth Symphony since 1997. Formerly principal clarinetist with the Rochester Philharmonic and acting principal of the San Francisco Symphony, he has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, 92nd Street Y, the Tokyo, Cleveland, Muir, Ying, and Dover String Quartets, and the festivals of Marlboro, Santa Fe, Chamber Music Northwest, Norfolk, Victoria, Stratford, Domaine Forget, Angel Fire, Steamboat, Park City, Sitka, Skaneateles, Bowdoin, and Orcas Island.

Recently retired as Professor of Music at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, Webster has performed and taught all over the United States and in Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Japan, China, New Zealand, and Australia. He has recorded for Arabesque, Albany, Bridge, Camerata, Centaur, C.R.I., Crystal, Nami, and New World. As composer and arranger, Webster has been published by Presser, International, G. Schirmer, and Schott.

Lauren Zwonik (she/her)

Graduate Assistantship in Arts Administration, Las Vegas Philharmonic

Speaking at Speaking to Gen Z to Get Them Excited About Your Events

Vermont flutist Lauren Zwonik had the pleasure of being a distinguished clinician and soloist for festivals in Jamaica, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Italy, Austria, and Perú. As a soloist, Lauren was a winner of the 2020 West Virginia University and 2013 Vermont Youth Orchestra Concerto Competitions. As an educator Lauren has taught students of all ages, conductor of the Clarkson University Orchestra, and adjunct professor of flute at St. Lawrence University. She currently has a thriving woodwinds studio in Las Vegas.

Lauren currently serves as the Graduate Assistantship in Arts Administration with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, in addition to the personnel manager for the UNLV Opera Orchestra. Outside her studies Lauren serves on the board for Sigma Alpha Iota Las Vegas Alumnae Chapter and Las Vegas Flute Club.

Lauren is pursuing her DMA with a Certification in University Teaching at the UNLV. She completed her MM in Flute Performance at WVU with a Certificate in University Teaching, and her BM in Music Education and Flute Performance with a minor in Music Business at the Crane School of Music.

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