Constituency Meetings

Throughout the Conference, you’ll gather together for stimulating meetings with those who best understand the challenges of your position: your peers. Whether you’re an executive director, board member, volunteer, staff member, or musician at a member orchestra or a member of our student constituency, there is learning designed specifically for you.

Select your constituency below to view your group’s meetings.

If you are unsure about your constituency group before Conference, please contact Member Services at member@americanorchestras.org. While in Baltimore, please go to the Registration Area with any questions.

Click here for a list of League staff constituent liaisons.

Any times listed are Eastern Time. Agendas will be posted in early spring and are subject to change; check this page for the latest version.

Artistic Constituencies

Artistic Administrators

Gather with your artistic administrator peers for a joint meeting with artist managers to discuss working together more effectively based on shared goals, as well as roundtable conversations about strategic and operational issues.

Composers

Join creators and the people who work with them (conductors, managers, publishers, and artist administrators) to discuss innovative programming, community opportunities, and the business of collaboration between composers and orchestras.

Conductors

Gather with your conductor peers for discussions about topics such as diversifying programs, planning for children's concerts, and engaging composers with your community.

Musicians

Join your peers in facilitated conversations around current critical issues, opportunities, and strategies for strengthening our field. These discussions will be relevant for musicians of all backgrounds, including freelance musicians, per-service musicians, musicians who hold multiple roles, and others.

Staff and Volunteer Constituencies

Development

Join your fellow development colleagues for facilitated conversations on topics that are front of mind for orchestra fundraising.

Education/Community Engagement

Gather with education and community engagement professionals in a mix of panel presentations and small group discussions on topics addressing both sides of the portfolio.

Please also join us for a dedicated Pre-Conference Half Day Meeting specifically for EdCE and youth orchestra professionals this year.

Finance

Gather with your finance colleagues for roundtable discussions and facilitated learning sessions. We'll address broad financial strategies and specific organizational needs, ensuring you leave with actionable ideas to strengthen your financial leadership.

General Managers & Operations

Join your GMs and Ops peers to share inspiration and learn from each other’s experiences. Discussions will cover both strategic and operational topics, including the IMA and EMA, advocacy updates, AI topics, our yearly backstage tour of the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and more.

Marketing, Groups 1-2

Gather with your marketing peers from Group 1-2 orchestras for roundtable discussions and presentations on best practices and top-of-mind topics.

Marketing, Groups 3-8

Gather with your marketing peers from Group 3-8 and youth orchestras for roundtable discussions and presentations on best practices and top-of-mind topics.

Orchestra Board Members

Gather for a special orchestra board member forum featuring how to demystify the magic on the podium with Conductor Robert Moody, an in-depth interview with former NEA Director of Music and Opera Ann Meier Baker, and board chair and peer roundtables.

Public Relations

Join others in public relations and communications to discuss strategic storytelling and organizational messaging, working with social media influencers, and more.

Volunteers

Connect with the League’s Volunteer Council members, learn from Gold Award project presenters, and take part in sessions on marketing and community outreach. These focused conversations and networking opportunities offer practical strategies to strengthen your volunteer organization.

Youth Orchestra Division

In addition to peer networking, programming will focus on Design Thinking for embedding change; building sustainable, family-engaged fundraising strategies; strengthening collaboration between marketing and development; and Hot Topics, a facilitated exchange designed to crowdsource practical solutions to real-time challenges.

Executive Directors

Executive Directors, Group 1

Join your Group 1 executive director peers for fellowship and constituency conversations about the urgent strategic and operational issues facing our field.

Executive Directors, Group 2

Join your Group 2 chief executive peers for conversations and learning sessions focused on the latest operational issues, innovations, and opportunities to advance your leadership and your orchestra.

Executive Directors, Groups 3-4

Join your Group 3 and 4 executive director peers to connect, inspire, and discuss critical topics, including revenue infrastructure, technology, board engagement, and electronic media.

Executive Directors, Groups 5-6

Join your Group 5 and 6 executive director peers to share inspiration and learn from each other’s experiences. Discussion will cover both strategic and operational topics, intended to advance your leadership and your orchestra.

Executive Directors, Groups 7-8

Join your Group 7-8 executive directors to exchange ideas and sharpen skills when it comes to topics such as planned giving, board engagement, and more.

Students

In addition to networking with your peers and orchestra professionals, student topics may include a job application workshop, an orchestra career panel, and orchestra social media marketing.

Banner: Attendees at Conference 2023. Credit: Jason Cohn.