At the League of American Orchestras’ annual Conference yesterday in Cleveland, Ohio, League President and CEO Jesse Rosen delivered an address that expanded on the Conference theme, “The New Work of Orchestras.” Excerpts are below; read the full speech here. “Most of us would agree that today’s environment is profoundly different from the one that gave rise to the modern American orchestra. Thankfully, we have settled the debate—clinging to the past is not an option; change is necessary. I am going to offer my view of ten areas that I believe define the critical work—the key issues—that orchestras must address today and in the future…. Number 10: Design the organizations that serve the music and missions of today. Number 9: Build organizational cultures that promote trust, transparency, and collaboration. Number 8: Invest in developing and retaining all your talent. Number 7: Take governance seriously and engage the board in the work that matters. Number 6: Integrate community engagement in all activity; it’s a value, not a program. Number 5: Prioritize diversity. Number 4: Advocate with and for your arts community, especially smaller, community-based organizations. Number 3: Be part of the solution to our nation’s education equity crisis. Number 2: Run your businesses not just to last, but to be vibrant. Number 1: Experiment, evaluate, and collaborate.”
Posted May 29, 2015
Photo of Jesse Rosen © Nannette Bedway 2015
