Speakers

Marin Alsop

(she/her)

Conductor and Educator, TACF

Speaking at Opening Session, Gold Baton Award, and Keynote

Clarice Assad

(she/her)

Composer and Pianist

Speaking at Opening Session, Gold Baton Award, and Keynote

Kinan Azmeh

(he/him)

Clarinetist and Composer

Speaking at Closing Luncheon: Home, Freedom, and Belonging with Kinan Azmeh

Jessica Rivero Altarriba

(she/her)

Assistant Conductor, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Speaking at Opening Session, Gold Baton Award, and Keynote

Steven Brosvik

(he/him)

President & CEO, The O.C. Tanner Chair, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Speaking at Opening Session, Gold Baton Award, and Keynote

Renée Fleming

(she/her)

Soprano, WHO Goodwill Ambassador of Arts and Health

Speaking at Opening Session, Gold Baton Award, and Keynote

Martha Gilmer

(she/her)

President and Chief Executive Officer, The San Diego Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Closing Luncheon: Home, Freedom, and Belonging with Kinan Azmeh

Alan Mason

(he/him)

Board Chair, League of American Orchestras

Speaking at Closing Luncheon: Home, Freedom, and Belonging with Kinan Azmeh

Quinn Mason

Composer/Conductor, Masonian Music

Speaking at Opening Session, Gold Baton Award, and Keynote

Simon Woods

(he/him)

President and CEO, League of American Orchestras

Speaking at Opening Session, Gold Baton Award, and Keynote and Closing Luncheon: Home, Freedom, and Belonging with Kinan Azmeh

Annie Agle

(she/her)

VP of Sustainability, Cotopaxi

Speaking at Creating a Sustainable Future for Your Orchestra and Community

Annie Agle is the Vice President of Sustainability and Impact for Cotopaxi, a Public Benefit Corporation founded to create Gear for Good®, sustainably designed gear that fuels both outdoor experiences and global change. She steers the brand’s actions around climate, giving, corporate social responsibility, and human rights. She works to democratically implement sustainable business strategies to drive the brand’s positive social and environmental returns.

Annie has over a decade of experience impacting business strategy and leadership, working with numerous companies as an ESG consultant at Hanuman Capital and Development3. She believes that humility, collaboration, and transparency are the foundational principles of effective and holistic sustainability and works passionately to leverage her experience and network to serve the needs of wider society.

Annie graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and completed her Master of Science in Sustainability at the University of Cambridge in England. Annie is proudly autistic and queer, and in her spare time, she loves Dungeons and Dragons, rock climbing, ballet, and her family.

Connect with Annie on LinkedIn

Michael Albaugh

(he/him)

Executive Director, Cape Symphony

Speaking at Building the Case for Strategic Inclusion

Michael Albaugh is the Executive Director of the Cape Symphony, bringing nearly two decades of leadership in arts education, composition, and community-focused initiatives. Previously, he played a key role at The Philadelphia Orchestra, leading the HEAR initiative and launching the All City Orchestra Summer Academy. At Jazz at Lincoln Center, he founded the Summer Jazz Academy and expanded jazz education programs. His tenure at Montclair State University included overseeing the transition to the Cali School of Music and a major facility expansion. At Interlochen Center for the Arts, he drove policy reforms and program growth. Michael holds advanced degrees in composition and music education from Bowling Green State University, West Virginia University, and West Liberty University. His work continues to shape music education and engagement nationwide.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn

Sean Baker

(he/him)

Director of Institutional Giving, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Culture of Philanthropy and Best Practices for Institutional Funding

Sean D. Baker joined the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) as Director of Institutional Giving in 2020. In his role, he works with area businesses, government entities, and individuals to secure approximately $1.5 million annually to support the CSO’s operations. Since 2020, Sean has also collaborated across the CSO and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Music and Event Management Inc. (MEMI) to secure over $20 million in additional government funding.

Baker began his arts administration career in 2005 at his alma mater, Manhattan School of Music, and later gained valuable experience in most functional areas of orchestral operations; at the League of American Orchestras, in urban agriculture, book publishing, and as a freelance musician and fundraising consultant.

As a childhood beneficiary of government assistance programs and music-based mentorship, Sean gives back by volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cincinnati Chapter, and by providing affordable housing in Southwest Ohio.

Connect with Sean on LinkedIn

Evin Blomberg

(she/her)

Musician, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Organizational Success Through Musician Engagement

Award-winning violinist Evin Blomberg currently plays in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Pops and is the Founder of the Soli Music Society. Evin is a graduate of The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles and earned her Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York as a student in the Pinchas Zukerman Performance Program. Prior to joining the CSO, Evin lived in London, England where she regularly performed in the violin sections of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. In addition to her performance career, Evin seeks to find ways to give back to her community and spark a passion for music and the arts in others.

Connect with Evin on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X

Andrew Bradford

(he/him)

President & CEO, Santa Rosa Symphony

Speaking at From the Ground Up, Reimagining and Redefining the Perfect Volunteer Group

J. Andrew Bradford joined the Santa Rosa Symphony as President & CEO in July 2023. Previously, Bradford was Executive Director of Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, where he increased enrollment to a record 440+ choristers, achieved consecutive budget surpluses, and won a Grammy Award. Bradford has also served as Executive Director of the Colorado Music Festival & Center for Musical Arts and Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, and worked in fundraising, marketing, and operations for the Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, and Houston Symphony.

Originally from New York City, Bradford was trained as a cellist and received his bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, where he was recipient of a graduate fellowship and studied music and management. Bradford is also a graduate of the former Arts Management Fellowship program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn

Harold Brown

(he/him)

Chief Inclusion Officer, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Building the Case for Strategic Inclusion

Harold Brown serves as the first-ever Hon. Nathaniel R. Jones Chief Inclusion Officer at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO). Previously, Harold served as Vice President, Strategy & Policy at Interact for Health and Vice President for Community Strategies at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF). For 16+ years prior to joining GCF, Harold served in a variety of leadership roles at KnowledgeWorks, which involved creating opportunities for investment and partnerships to dramatically improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged youth in cities across the nation. An Oxford, Ohio native and graduate of Harvard University, Harold began his career as a Senior Researcher at WGBH Boston. Upon returning to Ohio, Harold directed Multicultural Enrollment Services at Miami University, where he led the University’s successful efforts to dramatically increase minority student enrollment and retention. A strong believer in the importance of community service, Harold currently serves on numerous boards, including Mt. St. Joseph University, City Link Center, GreenLight Cincinnati, and AchievePoint Career Academy. Harold resides in Springdale, Ohio with his wife, Gwen, and their son Christopher, a fourth-year music major at The Ohio State University.

Connect with Harold on LinkedIn

Jejuana Brown

(she/her)

Director, Diversity Equity Inclusion & Community Relations, The Cleveland Orchestra

Speaking at Building the Case for Strategic Inclusion

Jejuana C. Brown is an inclusive strategy professional with a passion for leadership development, mentoring, and building inclusive institutional cultures.  She currently serves as the Director of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Community Relations for The Cleveland Orchestra, leading an organization wide approach and strategy for building and strengthening an inclusive culture and environment for all stakeholders. Her prior positions include leading equity and inclusion programming and a regional workforce diversity strategy for Greater Cleveland Partnership and strategic and inclusive initiatives at Cleveland State University.

Jejuana earned a Master of Education in Adult Learning and Development from Cleveland State University. Currently she is a doctoral candidate in the Doctorate of Executive Leadership program at the University of Charleston, West Virginia. An active community member, Jejuana serves on the Cleveland Advisory board of Facing History and Ourselves and as a mentor in the Executive Leadership Development Experience at Case Western Reserve University.

Connect with Jejuana on LinkedIn and Instagram

Elizabeth Brown-Ellis

(she/her)

Chief Executive Officer, Lima Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Orchestras as Partners in Community Health and Wellness

Elizabeth Brown-Ellis has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Lima Symphony Orchestra since 2013. Under her leadership, the LSO became the first orchestra in the country to receive the Stand for the Arts Award from Ovation Television and Charter Communications for innovative and inclusive programming.

Brown-Ellis is passionate about making the healing power of music accessible to all. In 2018, she created Healing through Music, which brings live performances to hospitals, behavioral health centers, and correctional facilities. In June 2024, the LSO became the first orchestra in Ohio and one of the first in the country to perform inside a correctional facility, accompanied by a 100-man chorus of inmates.

She also launched Music in Unexpected Spaces, taking the orchestra off the stage and into the community, making orchestral music a living part of people’s daily lives.

Finally, she expanded the LSO’s education programs by 750% in one year.

Lee Bynum

(they/them)

Professor, Indiana University

Speaking at Follow the Music for Systemic Change

Lee Bynum has worked at the intersection of the performing arts and racial equity for more than twenty years. They have collaborated with some of the world’s leading arts organizations, including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Minnesota Opera, National Black Theatre, National Queer Theater, Theater Mu, San Francisco Ballet, Dance Lab New York, the Museum of Arts and Design, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Lee has lectured on racial justice in arts programming at institutions such as Yale University, the Juilliard School, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, and The New School. As a composer, librettist, and dramaturg, they have been engaged by Opera North, the Metropolitan Opera, Detroit Opera, American Opera Projects, the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University, and the University of Michigan.

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn and Instagram

Sean Claire

(he/him)

Core Violin, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Orchestras as Partners in Community Health and Wellness

Mr. Claire has been a violinist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra since 1990, has appeared several times as soloist with the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra, and holds the distinction of being the first of a select group of solo performers in the KSO’s Music and Wellness program. In 2010 Mr. Claire was appointed to the position of Concertmaster of Symphony of the Mountains (SOTM) with which he has appeared as soloist on several occasions, and he is a very active chamber musician and recitalist in the East Tennessee area. His orchestral credits include the Syracuse Symphony, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, and Asheville Symphony, among others. He is a 15-year veteran of the Crested Butte Music Festival from 2002-2016.

Raised in California, Mr. Claire began his training at age 11, made his first solo appearance with the North Coast Symphony at 15, and at 16, he was admitted to San Diego State University with a full scholarship under the tutelage of Professor Michael Tseitlin; he later continued studies at the Eastman School of Music with renowned Professor, Zvi Zeitlin.

Steve Collins

(he/him)

President and CEO, Hartford Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Building the Case for Strategic Inclusion

Steve Collins has served the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2014, first as Director of Artistic Operations and Administration and currently as President and CEO. Collins has worked with HSO Music Director Carolyn Kuan to infuse performances with digital media content, engage audiences in imaginative ways in-person and online, redesign and contemporize concert series, establish the position of Assistant Conductor, and create impactful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He managed the successful completion of a $10M capital campaign in March of 2020, nearly doubling endowed funds. Collins received the University of Hartford’s Anchor Award for Impact on Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement. He was recently the Chairman of the League of American Orchestras Group 3 orchestra executives and an ex-officio member of the League’s Board of Directors. He is also Chairman of the Julius Hartt Musical Foundation Board of Trustees, in service to the University of Hartford’s Hartt School.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn

Lydia Connolly

(she/her)

Independent Consultant and Mentor; Former Senior Director and Head of Artist Management, HarrisonParrott

Speaking at Working in Harmony: A Common Vision for Artist Managers and Artistic Planners

Board director with international arts management company HarrisonParrott for over thirty years, Lydia now works as an independent consultant focused on mentoring artists and artist managers. At HP, Lydia represented a prestigious roster of instrumentalists, conductors, and composers worldwide and headed up the artist management department. She was Head of Inclusion and Access with HP and remains a trustee of the HarrisonParrott Foundation.

Lydia was the first woman to read undergraduate Music at New College, Oxford and is a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (violin). She is alumna of the Strategic Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School Oxford and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Lydia has served on the board of the International Artist Managers’ Association as well as IAMA’s Broadcasting and Media Committee. She is regularly invited to speak at industry conferences and has experience as an international competition juror as well as leading seminars and workshops.

Elizabeth “B” Crittenden

(she/her)

Director of Corporate Support, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Culture of Philanthropy and Best Practices for Institutional Funding

Elizabeth (commonly known as “B”) Crittenden is motivated by the pursuit of strategies and systems that help achieve a mission. With a background in music as a former horn player, she has over 10 years of professional experience in non-profit arts organizations of all sizes in Appleton, WI and Pittsburgh, PA. She is currently the Director of Corporate Support at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and is responsible for the management and growth of the Corporate Annual Fund, sponsorships, and fostering meaningful relationships across Pittsburgh’s business community. B is passionate about impact evaluation and communication practices to aid in fundraising and institutional decision-making. B holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College and a Master’s in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She currently lives in Pittsburgh and spends her time outside of work running or lounging with her husband, two senior dogs, and middle-aged cat.

Connect with B on LinkedIn

Daniel Crupi

(he/him)

Executive Director, Asheville Symphony

Speaking at Disaster Preparation and Recovery

Daniel M. Crupi has served as Executive Director of the Asheville Symphony (ASO) since July of 2021. Under his leadership, ASO has introduced many successful new initiatives, including its award-winning ALT ASO chamber orchestra series, annual Symphony in the Park celebration drawing over 10,000 attendees, and an acclaimed Artist Residency program. He has also overseen the expansion of ASO’s pops and recital offerings while strengthening its Masterworks Series, music education programs, and its signature project, the Asheville Amadeus Festival.

Previously, Daniel served as Executive Director of The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and Chief Operating Officer of the Greensboro Symphony.

Daniel holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame and UNC-Greensboro. He and his wife, Caroline, along with their 2-year-old son, Oliver, and their sweet but neurotic dog, Finley, love contributing to Asheville’s thriving arts scene.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn and Instagram

antonio c. cuyler, ph.d.

(he/him)

Professor/Consultant, University of Michigan/Cuyler Consulting, LLC

Speaking at Follow the Music for Systemic Change

antonio c. cuyler, ph.d. is Professor of Music in Entrepreneurship & Leadership, Faculty Associate in Voice & Opera in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD), and Faculty Associate in the African Studies Center at the University of Michigan. His scholarship interweaves curiosities and inquiries about arts administration, entrepreneurship, leadership, management curricula, creative justice, cultural policy, and experiential learning. The central question that he investigates in his research agenda is, "in what ways can the creative sector ensure and protect the creative justice of historically and continuously low casted, othered, and subalterned peoples?" The League of American Orchestras commissioned him to lead its seminal report, Racial/Ethnic and Gender Diversity in the Orchestral Field in 2023.

Connect with antonio on LinkedIn

Shayne Doty

(he/him)

Vice President of Development, Charlotte Symphony

Speaking at Building the Case for Strategic Inclusion

Shayne Doty is Vice President of Development for the Charlotte Symphony, articulating how the Symphony fulfills Charlotte’s goals as a major city and connects with communities, enabling a successful $50 million campaign. He worked at the Asia Society, The Metropolitan Opera, the Paley Center for Media, and Washington National Opera. He has advised organizations on board development, fundraising, and campaigns and collaborated with soprano Renée Fleming, composer Huang Ruo, the Aga Khan Museum and others.

He has played organ recitals internationally, performed with the North Carolina Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Winston-Salem Symphony, Les Arts Florissants, the Theatre of Voices, and appeared as soloist with orchestras in concertos by Jongen, Poulenc, Arnold, and Handel.

Shayne Doty holds degrees from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Duke University, Southern Methodist University and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon.

Connect with Shayne on LinkedIn and Instagram

David Fisk

(he/him)

President and CEO, Charlotte Symphony

Speaking at Building the Case for Strategic Inclusion

David Fisk joined the Charlotte Symphony as its President & CEO in 2020. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony in Virginia for 18 years, having previously held leadership roles in the UK and Ireland with a chamber orchestra, a symphony orchestra, an international arts festival, and a sculpture park. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Manchester, and a Postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Northern College of Music, where he also studied singing, composition and conducting.

David’s musical life began early, as a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Studying cello led to a deep affinity for orchestral and chamber music, and learning organ at St. Paul’s developed his love of church and choral music into adulthood. David made the turn in his early twenties to arts management, to which he has ever since dedicated his career.

Marena Gault

(she/her)

Member, Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and League Volunteer Council

Speaking at From the Ground Up—Reimagining and Redefining the Perfect Volunteer Group

Marena’s current affiliations include: Dallas Symphony Board of Governors; Center for BrainHealth Board of Advisors; The Dallas Zoo Board of Directors; AMSOV Board Past President; League of American Orchestras Volunteer Council; Project Unity Co-Chairman for Together We Sing; Host Committee for Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s The Big Dance; FBI Citizen’s Academy Graduate and Alumni Member; Scientist Selection Judge for the Center for BrainHealth; Recipient of the Lois Monk Award for Leadership and Dedication; Thalia Club; and Dallas Dinner Dance Club.

Roger Gault

(he/him)

Board Chairman, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at From the Ground Up, Reimagining and Redefining the Perfect Volunteer Group

Roger Gault has developed a wide variety of projects including office, retail, industrial, hotel, multifamily and single-family residential and land development. He handles land acquisition, partnership structure, debt and equity structure, leasing, and marketing. In addition to developing projects for his own account, Roger also provides real estate consulting and advisement services. These services include project planning, budgeting, marketing, and project management for third-party owners of development and investment properties. Prior to founding Gault Company, Roger served as an officer for a variety of companies while developing his own projects. His last corporate endeavor prior to forming Gault Company was as a partner of Koll Development Company (KDC), where he was involved in the development of corporate headquarters for Fortune 500 companies. He was responsible for the development of corporate campuses for companies such as Omnicom, Rapp Collins Worldwide, Citizens Communications, and Nokia.

Connect with Roger on LinkedIn

Wolfgang A. Graf

(he/him)

CEO & Co-Founder, easy-connect

Speaking at Engaging Future Audiences in a Digital World

CEO & Co-Founder of easy-connect and Kulturplanner. Cultural Entrepreneur in the Arts & Culture sector. Background in Data Analytics. Passionate about empowering cultural institutions to embrace digital transformation. Focused on equipping these institutions with cutting-edge digital & data-driven audience development tools, making access to Arts & Culture easier so that more people can enjoy it and make the world a better place to live. Working closely with leading cultural organizations, such as the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Wiener Staatsoper, Opernhaus Zürich, and Elbphilharmonie, providing innovative data-driven solutions for digital audience engagement - from data analytics & segmentation tools to NextGen White Label Apps with a focus an new audiences (e.g. with Rush Lottery and digitizing student and young audience programs), audience engagement with Social & Community Features as well as personalized content presentation and communication.

Connect with Wolfgang on LinkedIn

Lorin Green

(she/her)

Community Relations Manager, Seattle Symphony

Speaking at Centering Youth to Enhance Your Orchestra's Mission and Success and Student Constituency Meeting

Lorin Green (she/her) is an arts leader, administrator, flutist, and educator from Augusta, GA. She currently serves as the Community Relations Manager of the Seattle Symphony where she acts as the bridge between the orchestra and the community. In 2023, Lorin completed the League of American Orchestras Essentials of Orchestral Management Program at Juilliard and was appointed to the League of American Orchestras’ inaugural Student Leadership Council. She co-edited the published anthology From Our Eyes & Ears: Writings by Musicians of Color, Volume 1 –  Black Voices that centers writings by musicians of color from various perspectives who chose to pursue music as a career path in the western classical music field.

Lorin is finishing her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Flute Performance at the University of Washington. Her work and education center on amplifying the voices of the underrepresented within all fields of music and art at large.

Connect with Lorin on LinkedIn and Instagram

Assal Habibi

(she/her)

Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Southern California

Speaking at Music and Mind: A Panel Discussion

Assal Habibi is an Associate Research Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Center for Music, Brain, and Society at the University of Southern California. Her interdisciplinary research explores the impact of the arts, with a particular focus on music, on health and human development. She investigates how innate biological factors and experiential learning shape the development of cognitive, emotional, and social abilities across the lifespan. She has been a principal investigator on several innovative studies, including projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). An expert in electrophysiological and neuroimaging methods, her work extensively employs longitudinal and cross-sectional models to examine the effects of integrating music-based activities into school curricula and elder care, especially for those from underserved communities. Her research not only highlights the essential role of the arts in education but also explores the therapeutic potential of music for individuals across different age groups, including the elderly.

Catherine Heitz New

(she/her)

Chief Executive Officer, RSC Associates

Speaking at Fundraising Fundamentals to Secure Your Orchestra’s Financial Future

Throughout Catherine Heitz New's 20-year career in arts fundraising, she has earned a reputation for her unwavering commitment to results and clarity of vision, helping organizations achieve significant fundraising growth.

Her focus extends beyond financial outcomes, recognizing that the vitality of the arts lies in investing in the individuals propelling them forward. Catherine's approach centers on enhancing team capabilities, ensuring that staff, board members, and artists are well-versed in best practices and fully engaged in achieving fundraising success. Across diverse budget and market sizes, Catherine has guided numerous organizations to capitalize on their teams' unique strengths, yielding immediate results and fostering long-term sustainability.

Drawing on her extensive experience as a fundraising practitioner, coach, and volunteer, Catherine adeptly assesses clients' risks and opportunities. Her solutions are not only effective but also mindful of resources, reflecting a strategic and conscientious approach to achieving success.

Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn

Annette Jarvis

(she/her)

Co-Managing Partner, SLC Office, Greenberg Traurig LLP

Speaking at Orchestras as Partners in Community Health and Wellness

Annette W. Jarvis is a nationally recognized restructuring and bankruptcy lawyer. She represents parties in financially distressed situations in Chapter 11 cases, receiverships and out-of-court workouts. She has experience in a variety of industries, including entertainment, real estate, manufacturing, insurance, retail, agribusiness, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, and mining. She has specialized in handling complex cases remedying problems created by mass torts and fraudulent enterprises. She is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and currently serves on its Board of Regents.

Annette began doing pro bono work for non-profit organizations over 30 years ago. She began working with the USUO in volunteering her legal expertise in 2002 and joined the USUO Board of Trustees in 2010. She has served as the Secretary of the Board since November of 2010 and as Vice-Chair of the Board since September of 2022. She is devoted to the arts and has a special interest in promoting and enabling music and health and wellness programs in her community.

Connect with Annette on LinkedIn

Loki Karuna

(he/him)

Executive Director, American Composers Forum

Speaking at Follow the Music for Systemic Change

New York City-based musician, producer, and activist, Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen) began his career as an orchestral bassoonist, performing with ensembles including the South Arkansas Symphony, Jackson Symphony, American Youth Symphony, Memphis Repertory Orchestra, the Eroica Ensemble, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the Southeast Symphony, the Artosphere and Gateways Festival Orchestras, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. With a desire to decolonize "classical" music, he later transitioned away from the performance stage and has quickly become a thought leader at the intersections of race, contemporary culture, and "classical" music through his work in broadcast media, composer advocacy, and as a guest lecturer. Loki's nationally-syndicated radio series include "The Sound of 13," "Gateways Radio," and "Noteworthy Classical." Recent institutional partners include Yale University, Juilliard, the Apollo Theater, the American Composers Orchestra, and the American Composers Forum.

Sean Kelly

(he/him)

Founder, VATIC

Speaking at How to Maintain Control when using Dynamic Pricing Software

Sean Kelly is the Founder of Vatic. For over a decade he was the head of marketing at performing arts organizations large and small. During this time, he gained a deep understanding of live event pricing and developed a new way of thinking about what we should be charging for a ticket. Previous to his time in arts marketing, Sean worked for Starbucks Corporation as a product manager focused on creating future strategy.

Connect with Sean on LinkedIn

Ben Kipp

(he/him)

Vice President of Education & Community Engagement, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Speaking at Orchestras as Partners in Community Health and Wellness

Ben Kipp is the Vice President of Education & Community Engagement for USUO, overseeing all Opera and Symphony programs, with over 300 services across 25 programs, reaching 100,000+ students and adults.

With a decade in arts leadership and 13 years as a professional musician, Ben previously served as Director of Artistic and Educational Programming for Cleveland’s Contemporary Youth Orchestra, where he commissioned nine orchestral works and led 20+ clinics and six residencies. He has also collaborated closely with high-profile artists, producing performances and events with Machine Gun Kelly, Chris Thile, Jason Mraz, and Kenny Loggins.

As an orchestral percussionist, Ben has performed with orchestras of Utah, Cincinnati, New World (FL), and Indianapolis. He toured with the US Air Force “Band of Flight” and was section percussionist for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. He holds a Master’s Degree from Cleveland State University, studying under Tom Freer, former Assistant Principal Timpanist of The Cleveland Orchestra.

Daniel Kohn

(he/him)

Director of Audience Engagement, Orchestra Lumos

Speaking at Building a Compelling Case

Dan Kohn led marketing in global technology and in early-stage technology startups, while also serving on the Board of Orchestra Lumos (formerly Stamford Symphony) and the Marketing Committee of its Board for 15 years. 

In these technology marketing roles he managed the brand marketing, digital and traditional marketing, influencer, partnership and trade show programs, PR, product management and new product development functions.  He left the technology sector to lead marketing at Orchestra Lumos full-time in 2024, and bring these marketing and management experiences to the Orchestra.  He holds an MBA from Columbia Business school and lives in NYC with his wife, a professional pianist.

Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn

Christina Littlejohn

(she/her)

CEO, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at The New Subscription Economy

In 2024, Christina Littlejohn hiked Mount Kilimanjaro, was quoted in the New York Times, opened the first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Stella Boyle Smith Music Center, finished a $13.4M capital and endowment campaign, and took her daughter to college for her freshman year. The ASO Music Center is a “radically welcoming hub of musical activity for all Arkansans,” whose grand opening was reported on NPR’s Morning Edition.

During the Pandemic, the ASO reached over a million people in over thirty countries with its “Bedtime with Bach” series, kept all full-time musicians and staff employed, and continued its education programs to serve students across the state. Christina was recently honored with the 2023 Governor’s Arts Award for Community Development.

In 2017, she gave a TedX talk titled “Transform a Symphony, Change a Community,” and is a frequent speaker on Leading through Change and Board Governance.

Terry Loftis

(he/him)

President & CEO, New Jersey Symphony

Speaking at From the Ground Up—Reimagining and Redefining the Perfect Volunteer Group

Appointed to the role of New Jersey Symphony President & CEO in 2025, Terry D. Loftis was, most recently, Chief Advancement and Revenue Officer of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, where he was responsible for the DSO’s development/fundraising, marketing/sales, analytics/research, and events/volunteer services encompassing all contributed and earned revenue of nearly $36M. Prior to the DSO, Terry was the Donna Wilhelm Family President and Executive Director of TACA (The Arts Community Alliance). TACA’s mission is to support excellence and impact the arts in North Texas through grant making, capacity building and thought leadership.

Loftis is a Tony-nominated Broadway producer of Bandstand on Broadway in 2017 which received the Tony for Best Choreography and Orchestration. He received his first Tony nomination in 2014-15 for The Visit starring the legendary Chita Rivera.

Joseph McKenna

(he/him)

President & CEO, Sarasota Orchestra

Speaking at Disaster Preparation and Recovery

A transformational leader and visionary non-profit administrator, Joseph McKenna, President/CEO, Sarasota Orchestra has lead organizations in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast. Since 2001 he has guided the Sarasota Orchestra through a period of unprecedented growth and change. During this period, there has been an artistic transformation of the Orchestra, an evolution of the organization’s governance structure, and an increase in the Orchestra’s endowment corpus. Recently Joe led the effort to secure a $60 million leadership gift for a future music center. Widely respected for his acumen in governing, Joe completed Mobilizing Your Board at Harvard’s Kennedy School and in 2013, he was a featured presenter at the Board Source National Conference in Los Angeles. During summer 2023, he completed the Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management course at the Harvard Business School. Crisis management and disaster preparation/recovery are among Joe’s core competencies.

Anah McRae

(she/her)

Senior Account Executive, Spektrix

Speaking at Audit Your Revenue Streams

Anah brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit and ticketing software, having held roles in business analysis, solutions architecture, customer support, and sales. Her diverse background allows her to approach challenges from multiple perspectives, ensuring effective and innovative solutions for clients. Outside of her professional life, Anah is an enthusiastic performer and passionate supporter of community theatre, where she actively contributes her energy and creativity. With a commitment to both her career and her community, Anah thrives on making a positive impact wherever she is involved.

Connect with Anah on LinkedIn

Eric Nelson

(he/him)

Vice President, Global Partnerships, TRG Arts

Speaking at The New Subscription Economy

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 and on the Leadership Board for the League of American Orchestras LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group.

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn

Janet Newcomb

(she/her)

Executive Director, National Coalition for Arts' Preparedness & Emergency Response (NCAPER)

Speaking at Disaster Preparation and Recovery

Jan Newcomb, Executive Director of NCAPER, the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response, and the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Performing Arts Readiness project at Lyrasis, serves as Professor, Volunteer Title Series at the University of Kentucky. During her career Jan directed ten arts organizations including three orchestras: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. She was the SC Arts Commission Grants Director and taught at the University of Buffalo, USC, and NYIT in Manhattan. In 2009, Jan began consulting on leadership transition and development; her clients included Long Wharf Theatre, Lexington Philharmonic, and Miami Summer Music Festival. Jan received the 2009 Community Achievement Award from Mayor Joseph Riley, Charleston, SC and in 2017, she received the Lifetime Service Award from The ARTS, Corning, NY. She holds a BA in Music, Hood College and, MA in modern dance from George Washington University.

Bethany Nothstein

(she/her)

Sector Strategy & Community Manager, Spektrix

Speaking at Audit Your Revenue Streams

As Sector Strategy & Community Manager at Spektrix, Bethany Nothstein’s passion for performing arts and culture helps empower clients and partners to share knowledge and collaborative networking at 750+ organizations across the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland. Based in NYC, she brings over 15 years of experience with audience services, marketing, fundraising, and advertising from previous roles at Roundabout Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, and RPM.

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Jessica Phillips

(she/her)

Musician and Educator, Metropolitan Opera, Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School

Speaking at Embedding Culture Change Through Design Thinking Principles

Jessica Phillips is an experienced performer and dedicated educator. A member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra clarinet section since 2001, she also served as Chair of the Met Orchestra Committee and led two contract negotiations in 2014 and 2018, where she pioneered collaborative, often paradigm-shifting creative solutions to complex issues.

Jessica is on the graduate studies faculties of The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, and the Concert Artist Guild’s Community Impact Project Incubator. She has been a guest speaker and panelist at Sphinx, the League of American Orchestras conference and Essentials of Orchestra Management, Lincoln Center’s Curriculum on Change, and OPERA America’s Leadership Intensive.

Jessica received her MBA in Arts Innovation & Entrepreneurship from the Global Leaders Institute and graduated cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University. She holds certificates in Nonprofit Arts Management from NYU, Labor Relations from Cornell, Negotiation and Leadership from Harvard Law School, and is an alumna of the League’s Essentials of Orchestra Management and OPERA America’s Leadership Intensive.

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Lucas Richman

Music Director, Bangor Symphony Orchestra

Speaking at Creating an Environmentally Sustainable Future for Your Orchestra and Community

GRAMMY award-winning conductor Lucas Richman has served as Music Director for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra since 2010 and held the position as Music Director for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra from 2003-2015. Over the course of nearly four decades on the podium, he has garnered an international reputation for his graceful musical leadership in a diverse field of media. In concert halls, orchestral pits and recording studios around the world, Richman earns rave reviews for his artful collaborations with artists in both the classical and commercial music arenas.

He has appeared as guest conductor with numerous orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Zagreb Philharmonic. Also an accomplished composer, Mr. Richman has had his music performed by over two hundred orchestras across the United States; for more information about Lucas Richman: www.lucasrichman.com

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Vanessa Rose

(she/her)

CEO, American Composers Forum

Speaking at Follow the Music for Systemic Change

Vanessa Rose has led American Composers Forum (ACF) since 2019, guiding the organization’s transformation towards greater racial equity and advocacy for today’s music creators. For more than 15 years, Vanessa has been working with artists and organizations dedicated to living creatives, leading them through significant transitions and strategic transformation. In addition to ACF, these include the Lark Play Development Center, American Composers Orchestra, International Contemporary Ensemble, and The Knights orchestra collective. Previous administrative experience includes positions at the Metropolitan Opera and League of American Orchestras, plus the League’s Orchestra Management Fellowship Program with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Elgin Symphony, and Aspen Music Festival and School. She is a Western classical violinist with performance degrees from Eastman School of Music and Mannes College of Music. Vanessa is a member of the Performing Arts Alliance and the board of The Dream Unfinished activist orchestra, and mom to two teenagers.

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Roger Sametz

(he/him)

President & CEO, Sametz Blackstone Associates

Speaking at Building a Compelling Case

Roger Sametz is CEO / Founder of Sametz Blackstone Associates. Roger and his team provide brand-focused strategy, content, design, web development, and fundraising support to help mission-driven organizations increase engagement and stature; connect with new audiences and deepen relationships with existing ones; and increase both earned and contributed income.

Roger serves on the: Board of Advisors of WGBH; Executive Committee, WGBH Business Council; Executive Committee of the Business Partners Board of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Marketing + Technology Committee of the Curtis Institute of Music board; and is Vice Chair, Board of Directors, PS21 / Center for Contemporary Performance.

Representative clients include Boston Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Detroit Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Lumos, Sun Valley Music Festival, and Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Roger received both his BA and MFA from Yale. He writes and speaks on branding, marketing, and fundraising, including multiple presentations at League Conferences.

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Pratichi Shah

(she/her)

President and CEO, Flourish Talent Management Solutions, LLC

Speaking at Strategies for Creating Positive, Inclusive Organizations

Pratichi Shah is an HR strategist and thought leader with thirty years of experience in talent and HR in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She is the founder of Flourish Talent Management Solutions (FTMS), focused on increasing impact in nonprofits and philanthropies through talent and culture strategy alignment; equity and inclusion; training and organizational development; and leadership coaching.

Prior to launching FTMS, Pratichi was the Chief Talent Officer for Independent Sector, Global Director of the Employer of Choice function for Willis Towers Watson and worked in Organizational Effectiveness at the George Washington University & Hospital.

Pratichi often speaks about talent strategy to national audiences, has written for the Chronicle of Philanthropy and Stanford Social Innovation Review, and has been quoted in the New York Times annual “Giving” section. She serves on the Boards of Eckerd College and the League of American Orchestras.

She holds an MBA from American University, a BA from Eckerd College, and an executive coaching certification from the Newfield Network.

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Ari Solotoff

(he/him)

Shareholder | Entertainment Attorney, Drummond Woodsum

Speaking at Follow the Music for Systemic Change

Ari Solotoff is a Shareholder and Leader of the Entertainment, Media, & the Arts practice at Drummond Woodsum. Ari's practice uniquely blends representation of a diverse range of creative clients, who are known for defining and defying contemporary culture. Ari has been recognized as Maine's "Artful Lawyer" for his role in helping "composers, songwriters, filmmakers and other creative people avoid the legal pitfalls of the music and entertainment businesses" (Maine Sunday Telegram). Ari serves as Chair of the Theatre & Performing Arts Division of the American Bar Association's Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries. Ari is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Maine School of Law. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Languages from the University of California, Berkeley. Ari is also an alumnus of the AMEX Aspen Institute Fellowship for Emerging Nonprofit Leaders and the Orchestra Management Fellowship Program of the League of American Orchestras.

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Indre Viskontas

(she/her)

Associate Professor, University of San Francisco

Speaking at Music and Mind: A Panel Discussion

Dr. Indre Viskontas is a neuroscientist, musician, and science communicator across all mediums. She is an Associate Professor of Psychology and director of the Creative Brain Lab at the University of San Francisco. Dr. Viskontas has published more than 50 original papers and chapters related to the neural basis of memory and creativity and is currently the President of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the NeuroArts Blueprint and the Director of Communications for the Sound Health Network, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts. She has written and filmed 98 lectures for The Great Courses, hosted several TV shows and more than 450 podcast episodes across four different podcasts with more than 15 million downloads, and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, PBS NewsHour, and major radio stations across the US. Her first book How Music Can Make You Better, was published by Chronicle. She is also an accomplished opera singer and stage director, and Chief Science Officer at Reverberation, a media studio and tech company co-founded by Peter Gabriel, devoted to helping everyone leverage music to improve their lives.

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Maarten Walraven

(he/him)

Co-CEO, Symphony.live

Speaking at The Art of Orchestral Storytelling and its Impact Through Video

Maarten Walraven operates at the intersection of music, technology, communities, and education. There are many different hats, from Co-CEO at Symphony.live to teaching music business at Utrecht UniversityIf you want to follow his thinking, the best place is MUSIC x, the newsletter he co-edits.

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Kelly Waltrip

(she/her)

Executive Director, Denver Young Artists Orchestra

Speaking at Disaster Preparation and Recovery

Kelly Waltrip has been the Executive Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra Association since 2014. In addition to raising the organization's profile, her efforts in 2018-2019 were pivotal in forging a strategic Alliance between the Denver Young Artists Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony, a role she currently fulfills as Managing Director.

Before her role at DYAO, Ms. Waltrip was the General Manager of the Lexington Philharmonic, and, before that, held positions with the Detroit Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival.

In addition to her professional roles, Ms. Waltrip serves as Secretary of the Youth Orchestra Division Board of the League of American Orchestras and as Co-Chair of the Education Committee with the Colorado Symphony.

Ms. Waltrip earned her undergraduate degree in music from Western Michigan University and holds a Certificate in Arts Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She recently completed Emergency Planning for the Arts coursework at the University of Kentucky.

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Raff Wilson

(he/him)

Vice President of Artistic Planning, Seattle Symphony

Speaking at Working in Harmony: A Common Vision for Artist Managers and Artistic Planners

Raff's career in orchestral administration has taken him from his hometown of Sydney Australia via Hong Kong to Seattle, where he has been Vice President of Artistic Planning since 2020. Most recently he has helped lead the exciting appointment of the Orchestra's next Music Director, Xian Zhang.

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Theodore Wiprud

(he/him)

Composer and Consultant

Speaking at Orchestras as Partners in Community Health and Wellness

Theodore Wiprud is a composer and consultant in the arts and education, based in New York City. As Vice President, Education, at the New York Philharmonic from 2004 to 2018, he created and hosted the iconic Young People’s Concerts and directed a wide array of school and community programs. He has held similar posts at the Brooklyn Philharmonic and American Composers Orchestra, and created educational programming for the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. In the 1990s, he directed grantmaking programs at Meet The Composer (now New Music USA).

Currently, Mr. Wiprud researches and writes on emerging trends among US orchestras for the League of American Orchestras. He is lead mentor for the South Dakota Symphony’s Music Composition Academies, giving teens from Indigenous communities the chance to compose original music for professional musicians. His multimedia violin concerto “on the brink,” about fighting climate despair, premiered in South Dakota in January.

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Karen Yair

(she/her)

VP, Research and Resources, League of American Orchestras

Speaking at Orchestras as Partners in Community Health and Wellness

As Vice President of Research and Resources, Karen oversees the development of research, data, and resources that support League members in their work while driving the League’s advocacy, thought leadership, and media efforts.

During her decade at the League, Karen has introduced innovative, partnership-based approaches to collecting and sharing orchestra data on topics ranging from patron behavior to repertoire. She has also devised and co-authored numerous League resources, including the Catalyst Guide series, Orchestra Facts, and the newly launched Orchestras in Health and Wellness, to be featured at today’s session.

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Jessica Yankie

(she/her)

Senior Vice President, Client & Community Relations Director The PNC Financial Services Group, Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, PNC

Speaking at Culture of Philanthropy and Best Practices for Institutional Funding

Jessica L. Yankie is Senior Vice President and Client & Community Relations Director for The PNC Financial Services Group in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky market. In this role, she serves as Chief of Staff to the Regional President, oversees the Client & Community Relations team and the implementation of the PNC brand promise through strategic partnerships, PNC Foundation grants, sponsorships, events, and community outreach with alignment toward key stakeholders (customers, employees, communities, and shareholders).

Yankie serves as Vice-Chair for the 4C for Children board of trustees and is Co-Chair of 4C’s 2023 gala. She serves on the Events and Sponsorships Committee of Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC), is a graduate of both the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s WE Lead Class 11 and the YWCA Board Leadership program and was named a 2011 YWCA Rising Star. She is an active member of Women Connect, Multicultural, Military, Enable and PNC Proud employee business resource groups as well as a member of the bank’s Diversity & Inclusion Regional Council.

Additionally, Yankie is a member of United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s WINGs (Women Investing in the Next Generation) and co- leads the PNC United Way employee campaign committee. She has served on both the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Life Learning Center gala committees, serves on the Greater Cincinnati Foundation's Funders Collaborative and is an active volunteer at her children's schools.

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