Speaker(s): Kathleen Gregory, Director of Development, Public Justice Center and Sally Schaeffer, President, Uncorked Advocates

While the impulse to give comes from the heart, the size and timing of charitable donations is strongly influenced by federal tax policy. Major changes in giving incentives take effect in 2026, with potential for both expanding the base of donors to orchestras and changing the pace and scale of current donations. This practical session will walk through the adjustments in tax policy that are likely to shape giving at the individual, corporate, and foundation levels in the coming years and what to expect from donors going forward. Experts from the wider nonprofit sector will partner to describe what’s new, how it could influence private philanthropy, and how to talk with your orchestra’s supporters about these shifts in simple, clear ways.

Speaker(s): Catherine Beeson, Assistant Principal Viola, Colorado Symphony; Ingrid Larragoity-Martin, Executive Director, El Sistema Colorado; Conductor, Denver Young Artists Orchestra; Richard Scerbo, Director, National Orchestral Institute and Festival; Rachel Schultz, Chief Operating Officer, Hawaii Youth Symphony Association; Kelly Waltrip, Managing Director, The Gilmore Piano Festival, Former Executive Director, Denver Young Artists Orchestra/Managing Director - Alliance with the Colorado Symphony; Randy Wong, President and CEO, Hawaii Youth Symphony Association

Join us for two orchestra case studies illustrating the journey from having only occasional touchpoints with students to developing a sustained youth pathway program by partnering with other organizations in the community. Through mentorship, intergenerational outreach, performance opportunities, workforce development, and deep, mutual commitments to a shared goal—access to music education—strategic alliances can bridge missions, work towards shared outcomes, and sustain trust. The result: expanded opportunities for students and families and lasting community impact across all organizations involved.

Participants will come away from the session with the ability to: 

• Identify concrete criteria for mission-aligned partnerships and assess current or prospective partners.

• Apply practices that sustain collaborations over time, including shared outcomes, feedback loops, and clear decision making

• Engage teaching artists and professional musicians meaningfully in all aspects of partnership

Speaker(s): TBD

On and off the stage, we all do our best work when we feel immersed in a safe, trusted environment. Sexual harassment and other forms of sexual misconduct can rob us of that freedom and do great physical and psychological harm to individuals and organizations. Hearing from both staff and musician perspectives, we will learn about policies and behaviors that can help provide the healthy work environments we all deserve.

Speaker(s): Marni Cook, Chief Civic Engagement Officer, San Francisco Symphony; Heather Noonan, VP, Advocacy League of American Orchestras; and Randy Wong, President and CEO, Hawaii Youth Symphony

The creative sector shapes the identity of communities, innovates to solve problems, and generates work and workers that are deeply connected to the wider economy. Taking a seat at the table with your counterparts in the broader arts and civic sectors can ensure your orchestra is recognized for the value it creates and that it has a voice in local, state, and federal policies. Learn from fresh examples of how orchestras and partners are literally putting the arts on the map, centering live events as a community asset, and working to protect human creativity and performances as technology rapidly advances. 

Speaker(s): Penny Brill, former member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Founder, Musacor and Sarah Hoover, Associate Dean for Innovation in the Arts and Health at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

Orchestras’ emerging work in healthcare settings—from hospitals and nursing homes to outpatient and community health contexts—is highlighted in the League’s recent Catalyst Guide, Orchestras in Health and Wellness. As interest in this work continues to grow, many orchestras are asking not why music belongs in healthcare, but how to do this work well, in ways that support everyone involved.

This session focuses squarely on the practical realities of designing and delivering music programs in health and well-being settings. Topics will include:

• Identifying where your orchestra has the capacity to make a meaningful difference 

• Working safely and responsibly within healthcare environments

• Ensuring that musicians, patients, and healthcare staff are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and clearly defined roles they need

• Creating strong, interdisciplinary partnerships that underpin successful work in these settings

• Developing training, supervision, and evaluation models that can uphold artistic integrity and the well-being of everyone involved

Walk away with concrete guidance to help your orchestra build music and health programs that are thoughtful, effective, and aligned with both community needs and organizational capacity.

Speaker(s): Jennifer Barton, SVP Chief Revenue Strategy Officer, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Allison Burr-Livingstone, SVP Chief Advancement and Communications Officer, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Mark Hanson, President and CEO, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; and Agnieszka Rakhmatullaev, SVP Chief Operating Officer, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

What becomes possible when an orchestra sees itself not just as a concert presenter, but as cultural infrastructure? This session shares how the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has been reframing its work around that question. Learn how the BSO reshaped its operating model into an integrated revenue system that aligns marketing, loyalty, philanthropy, and experiences around growing relationships and partnerships, not just selling tickets. Walk away with a transferable framework, shared metrics, and practical ways to build relevance and resilience.

This session has been generously sponsored by Threshold Acoustics.

Speaker(s): Jennifer Boomgaarden Daoud, President and CEO, Omaha Symphony; Laura Reynolds, VP of Impact and Innovation, San Diego Symphony; and Karen Yair, Vice President, Research and Resources, League of American Orchestras

At a moment when the humanity of our work matters more than ever, this conversation centers on creating relevance and enduring engagement with audiences and communities.

Building on the League’s 2026 report on the scope, scale, and impact of the education and community work of professional orchestras and youth orchestras, we will examine the institutional practices, frameworks, and management systems that help orchestras become an essential force in their communities.

Learn how to surface internal expertise, strengthen existing programs, and align strategy, storytelling, and operations to deepen public value. We’ll also outline the questions, mindsets, and leadership capabilities required to build trust and advance long-term sustainability through authentic community connection.

Speaker(s): Jeff Alexander, President, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Sarah Generes, Vice President, Development, League of American Orchestras; Dale Hedding, Vice President of Development, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and Jennifer Teisinger, Executive Director, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra

Transformational gifts can redefine what is possible for orchestras. But how do these gifts actually happen?

Get a behind-the-scenes look as leaders from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra share the stories of two extraordinary gifts to their organizations— a $50 million gift to the CSO and a $2 million gift to the SDSO— that had an incredible impact.

This panel discussion will demonstrate:

• How transformational gifts emerge

• The critical steps that move an ambitious idea toward a realized commitment

• The conditions that inspire donors to invest at a truly impactful level

• The essential role board members play in securing these gifts by cultivating relationships and inspiring generosity

Designed for orchestra leaders, board members, and fundraising professionals, this session offers practical lessons and strategic perspectives on cultivating and securing gifts that can radically change an orchestra's ability to pursue its mission.