Lee Koonce

Former President and Artistic Director, Gateways Music Festival

Speaking at Opening Session and Gold Baton Award

Lee Koonce served as President & Artistic Director of Gateways Music Festival from 2016 through 2023. In 2009, he was appointed chair of Gateways’ Artistic Programs Committee upon the founder’s retirement and has served on the Festival’s board of directors since 1997.

Prior to his appointment at Gateways, Lee served as Executive Director of Third Street Music School Settlement, the oldest and one of the largest community music schools in the nation, for eight years. Previously, he was the Executive Director of the Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to his appointment at Sherwood, he served as Director of Community Relations for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Lee earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a bachelor of arts in Spanish Literature from Oberlin College, and a master of music in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music.