Speaker(s): John Devlin, Music Director, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra; Anwar Nasir, Executive Director, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra; Ben Newman, Executive Director, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra; Erica Bondarev Rapach, Executive Director, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra; and Simon Woods, President and CEO, League of American Orchestras

Orchestras thrive when audience development is embedded in the culture of the organization. Every staff and board member—from operations to artistic planning, development to education—plays a role in defining who our work is for.

In this session, we’ll reframe “audience expansion” as an organizational mindset, not a marketing tactic. Aligning product, programming, partnerships, and patron experiences around shared audience goals strengthens financial sustainability, deepens community engagement, and advances equity and inclusion.

Together, we’ll unpack tools and frameworks that help every department see their work through an audience lens, whether it’s a conductor considering repertoire, an educator shaping youth programs, or a development officer cultivating donors. Attendees will leave with concrete frameworks and a customizable roadmap for being an audience-first orchestra, no matter your mission or budget size.

This session is made possible by a generous grant from The Wallace Foundation.