Anwar Nasir will become the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s executive director in July. Photo by Taylor Meyer
“As a professional dancer, instructor and arts administrator, Anwar Nasir has always believed in the power of diversity to inspire,” writes Keith Spera in Thursday’s (6/10) NOLA.com. “On Thursday, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra named the 37-year-old Nasir, currently an administrator at the Omaha Symphony, as its new executive director, effective July 19. He’ll become the only Black executive director of a major American classical orchestra… ‘There is a change that is happening,’ he said. ‘I’m happy to be a part of it.’ … The LPO’s former CEO, James Boyd, … stepped down in December 2019…. [Nasir] worked at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl. At the Omaha Symphony, he became the chief revenue and advancement officer…. In 2018, he was one of 12 executives selected for the League of American Orchestras’ yearlong Emerging Leaders Program. He is also co-chairperson of the League’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion working group, and the co-founder of the Black Arts Leadership Alliance…. The LPO … executive director works closely not only with the LPO’s board, its staff and music director Carlos Miguel Prieto, but also its 67 full-time musicians…. Nasir will be at the organization’s helm as it gears up this fall.”
