Executive Director

The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) seeks a strong leader who has the proven ability to manage and lead an arts organization in achieving its strategic and budgetary goals in line with the mission and vision of the organization. This individual must have a successful track record in fundraising and possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills.  

The Position:  Executive Director 

The Executive Director serves as the chief operating officer of the ASO  and reports to the Board of Trustees through the Board Chair. The Executive Director is responsible for managing all operational aspects  of the ASO,  including human and financial resources. The Executive Director is responsible and accountable for implementing the policies set by the Board of Trustees. 

The Executive Director provides seamless and financially stable operations in support of the ASO’s musical offerings. In accomplishing this, the Executive Director works collaboratively with the Artistic Director who is responsible for all artistic matters. The Executive Director commits time and resources to ensure that the ASO carries out its obligation to serve as a community, cultural and educational institution. The Executive Director manages and operates in a manner that expands diversity and inclusivity throughout the organization.

Responsibilities: 

• In collaboration with the Board: 
  • Develop, update, oversee and evaluate the ASO’s Strategic Plan as a 5-year framework for implementing the Symphony’s artistic and educational priorities;
  • Manage finances and endowment to support strategic objectives and plans. 
• Direct all aspects of operations including but not limited to:
  • Planning for, marketing and producing ASO Masterworks, Pops, Chamber Series and Family concerts in coordination with the artistic vision of the Artistic Director, and the Strategic Plan;
  • Creating, monitoring, and achieving a board-approved budget for each symphonic season;
  • Developing, directing and achieving fundraising and ticket sales goals;
  • Directing and maintaining a staff to carry out operational functions;
  • Contracting musicians in accordance with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Conduct operations in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, the Artistic Director, Maryland Hall staff, and the Friends of the Annapolis Symphony (FASO) and others as appropriate;
• In cooperation with the Artistic Director, create and implement a marketing plan for the publication of programming, ticket and subscription information in a variety of media in order to attract a diverse audience and maximize attendance at music events;
• Set goals for, plan and implement, a multi-year comprehensive campaign, to encompass multiple streams of philanthropic investment, annual, restricted, planned, and endowment giving;
• Be visible and active in cultivating  partnerships and patrons in order to promote the Symphony and its mission among an ever-widening community of individuals, corporations, local leaders, foundations, elected officials and state and local government agencies;
• Promote the educational priorities of the Annapolis Symphony Academy and its Director in partnership with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) and others.

Qualifications 

• At least five years of senior management experience in non-profit organizations, including a minimum 3 years experience in designing and leading successful development strategies and fundraising;
• Bachelor’s degree (minimum);
• Financial management and budgeting skills within non-profit organizations;
• Experience in community networking to promote organizational mission and goals;
• Skill in fostering and maintaining a collegial and productive staff.

Desired Additional Qualifications 

• Working knowledge of orchestral music, production, and operations;
• Experience managing a comprehensive, capital, or endowment campaign;
• Experience negotiating and managing union contracts and requirements. 

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Annapolis Symphony offers a competitive benefits package to its employees, including health insurance and paid annual vacation.

Applications

Please send a cover letter that outlines interest and qualifications, a resume, and a list of references to:

search@annapolissymphony.org.

 (MS Word, or PDF only, please)

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt for 30 days from release of the announcement, and continue until the appropriate candidate is identified.  If necessary, the submission deadline will be extended.  Questions may be addressed to the Search Committee at the above email — which will respond to questions as promptly as possible. No calls please. 

About the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

Based in Maryland’s capital and regularly performing at the newly renovated Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is the largest performing arts organization in the city.  It is a fully-professional, part-time, union orchestra. As such, the Symphony has taken a leadership role in promoting excellence, innovation, and education.  It offers a variety of concerts each year, including a series of six pairs of Masterworks concerts (Friday and Saturday nights), three of which are also performed at the Music Center at Strathmore, a Chamber Series, three Pops concerts (Labor Day in the Park in two locations and a Holiday concert at Maryland Hall), family and school concerts, and a wide variety of educational outreach activities, residencies and special events.  The orchestra regularly collaborates with other major organizations throughout the region, including the U.S. Naval Academy Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs and the Annapolis Opera.  In 2018, the Symphony launched the Annapolis Symphony Academy, an educational program that identifies and nurtures musical talent in youth in an environment of artistic excellence, as well as economic and cultural diversity. In 2019, the Symphony was named an Affiliate organization at the Music Center at Strathmore. 

The Annapolis Symphony’s artistic excellence has grown significantly under the leadership of Artistic Director and Conductor José-Luis Novo, now in his nineteenth season. Maestro Novo is the longest serving Artistic Director of the Symphony. In addition to conducting the Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Novo also conducts the senior-level Orion orchestra of the Academy which offers two performances a year. There are many highlights to Maestro Novo’s tenure. The following are examples. In 2022, Maestro Novo led the ASO in the first, and artistically acclaimed, international tour with concerts in four cities in Spain. World renowned guitarist Pepe Romero appeared as guest artist for each of the concerts.  In fact ASO now attracts many top level guest artists including Midori, James Ehnes, Anne Akiko Meyers, Vadim Repin, Vadim Gluzman, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Olga Kern, Jon Nakamatsu, Denyce Graves, Steven Isserlis and others.  Under the baton of Maestro Novo, ASO has performed exciting new works commissioned by the Symphony and representing an impressive range of cultural diversity. The Symphony is in the process of recording three new albums for the London-based Toccata Recording Label, the first of which will be released in the next few months.

The Annapolis Symphony is governed by a Board of Trustees and, in addition to its Artistic Director, employs seven full-time and four part-time professional staff.  ASO’s ensemble of approximately 70 contracted professional musicians operates under a collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Musicians, Baltimore Local 40-543. A new 3-year agreement was ratified in June 2022 and went into effect on July 1, 2022.  The annual operating budget is $3.3 million.  The ASO also holds a significant endowment. 

Additional Information

This position is open until filled.

The ASO encourages diverse candidates to apply and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. The ASO is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

Candidates from minority backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply.