Musical America, publisher of the annual International Directory for the Performing Arts and of the daily Musical America news website, has named 30 individuals to its “Professionals of the Year” list. MA’s report, subtitled “Profiles in Courage,” singles out industry professionals who have “taken a risk, stepped up for the cause, or spoken out where others were silent—to the measurable benefit of their respective organizations and/or the field.” Included on the list are Aaron Dworkin, founder and president, Sphinx Organization; Anthony Fogg, artistic administrator, Boston Symphony Orchestra; Michael Morgan, music director, Oakland East Bay Symphony; Michael Pastreich, president and CEO, Florida Orchestra; and Robert Spano, music director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Aspen Music Festival and School. Also named are Susan Feder, program officer, arts and cultural heritage, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Johanna Keller, director of the arts journalism program and associate professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University; Alexander Lombard, president and CEO, Lake George Music Festival; Ellen McSweeney, violinist and blogger for NewMusicBox; and Stanford Thompson, founder and artistic director, Play On, Philly! and chairman, El Sistema USA. The choices were based on responses to questionnaires sent by Musical America to members of the international performing arts community, and factored in qualities such as measurable results, uniqueness, persistence, and inventiveness. Click here to see the full list.
Posted December 3, 2014
