Opportunities

Description

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with the Oregon Symphony Association in the search for its next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President and CEO will serve as the chief strategic and operational leader for the Oregon Symphony Association (OSA). Working in close collaboration with the OSA’s Music Director and Board of Directors, the President and CEO will build upon and manage long-term initiatives to ensure artistic excellence and financial stability. The President and CEO will think creatively and strategically as leader of the business operations of the OSA to support its mission and ambitions. In addition, the President and CEO will continue to expand the recognition and relevance of the OSA in the community, providing leadership and motivation to the entire organization including staff, orchestra, Board, and volunteers. The President and CEO will directly supervise the Vice President for Finance and Administration, Vice President and General Manager, Vice President for Marketing and Strategic Engagement, Vice President for Development, Vice President for Programming, and Executive Assistant and Board Liaison.

The Oregon Symphony played its first concert as the Portland Symphony on October 30, 1896, making it the oldest orchestra in the Western United States and the sixth oldest in the country. The Oregon Symphony has been led by top conductors from around the world and ranks as one of America’s major orchestras. With its primary home in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland’s cultural district, the Symphony also serves the greater region of Oregon and Southwest Washington. It maintains an especially strong presence in Salem, where the Symphony has performed regularly since 1955 when Igor Stravinsky conducted its inaugural performance.

The multi-Grammy nominated Oregon Symphony annually performs more than 115 concerts in Portland, Salem, Beaverton, Oregon wine country, and beyond. It also produces award-winning educational and community events. While unable to perform in person during the 20/21 season, the Oregon Symphony grabbed national attention and brought hope and healing to people around the globe through its digital and livestream programs like Essential Sounds. Through myriad activities, the Oregon Symphony each year serves more than 250,000 people in person and reaches tens of millions more through broadcast and digital offerings.

The Oregon Symphony strives to create a stronger and more vibrant community through music. Together with partner organizations, the Oregon Symphony uses music to inspire, foster life-long learning, bring people together, and create joy throughout its community. Examples include musicNow, which deploys music and physical therapy in senior residences, the Studio to School project, which provides comprehensive musical training to students and educators, and the Lullaby Project, which pairs singer-songwriters with people in housing transition to strengthen familial bonds through music.

Inspiring collaborations and adventurous programming that connects lives and spark conversations are central to the OSA’s mission. The Symphony’s own digital destination for music, Studio 125, allows individuals to discover new, never-before-seen performances, and unique programing for music lovers of all ages. Studio 125 programs include Symphony Storytime, which promotes English, Spanish, and music literacy, the Young People’s Concert series, which allows viewers to experience music from Latin America and the Caribbean, and Notations and Classical Session, which showcase inspiring classical works.

The Oregon Symphony employs 77 full-time union musicians, led by Music Director David Danzmayr; it additionally employs hundreds more contract players throughout the season. Under Danzmayr, the Symphony’s Creative Alliance features extraordinary artists and cultural thought leaders. The Oregon Symphony’s 23/24 season begins with Yo-Yo Ma and includes many more classical stars like Gil Shaham, Simon Trpeski, and James Ehnes. Beyond classical, the upcoming season features a wide range of popular artists from Kristin Chenoweth and Bela Fleck to Pink Martini and Mannheim Steamroller.

The OSA’s annual operating budget is approximately $23 million, of which 80% is spent on artistic and engagement programs. It employs a full-time staff of 45, who are responsible for concert production, ticketing, marketing, public relations, education, community engagement, fundraising, customer service, accounting, and financial reporting. The OSA is governed by a 43-member volunteer Board of Directors and is supported by thousands of individuals, businesses, and foundations. It receives funding from a variety of governmental, public, and private organizations.

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and resume. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of the Oregon Symphony Association as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated in the position prospectus.

The target salary range for this position is $300,000 to $350,000 plus bonus annually.

Preference will be given to applications received by April 28, 2023.

To apply for this position, visit: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1261.

Requirements

The Oregon Symphony Association will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. To be successful, the President and CEO should have experience leading a world-class performing arts organization or significant leadership experience in a nonprofit, private, or public sector environment, coupled with a fundamental understanding of the complex and evolving business model and financial aspects of symphony orchestra management.