In Thursday’s (10/23) St. Louis American, Rebecca Rivas profiles Jazz St. Louis Executive Director Gene Dobbs Bradford, who will receive a Nonprofit Executive of the Year Award from the St. Louis American Foundation at its annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards & Networking Luncheon on November 7. Bradford’s early interest in management led to his participation in the League of American Orchestras’ Orchestra Management Fellowship Program, where as a Fellow he received in-field training during the 1989-90 season. “In 1995, Bradford joined the nonprofit dedicated to advancing the art of jazz through live performance, education and outreach.… Becoming executive director in February 1999, he is credited with building the organization’s contributed and earned income from $375,000 to $1.8 million today.” Bradford majored in double bass at the Eastman School of Music, where his teacher, James VanDemark, encouraged him to pursue a career in music management. “ ‘Before I got to the point where I was going to be accomplished enough to be a great jazz bassist, I had already decided that I liked putting shows on more than I liked performing in them.’ ”
Posted October 28, 2014
