League of American Orchestras Announces Anne Parsons Leadership Program Participants

Six orchestral executives will take part in the professional development program, which aims to diversify the gender balance in top roles at American orchestras

The League of American Orchestras has named the six professionals who will take part in the 2025 edition of its Anne Parsons Leadership Program. Now in its second year, the program aims to improve gender diversity for those in leadership positions at the fifty largest orchestras in the country — since data shows that at present, 70% of people in these roles are men.

As part of the program, the participants will undergo online leadership training and coaching sessions, bimonthly conversations with mentors, and quarterly Leadership Forums, as well as meeting in-person at the League's Annual Conference. Throughout the year, the cohort will also meet virtually to discuss successes or problems, and to build community.

All those selected for the program have a minimum of five years' experience in the orchestral field, and some are in executive leadership roles in orchestras.

The selected candidates are:

• Rebecca Cain, Vice President of Operations, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
• Felice Doynov, Associate Dean of Visiting Faculty and Orchestra, New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy
• Mitsuko Flynn, Chief Operating and Impact Officer, Charleston Symphony
• Emily Fritz-Endres, Executive Director, Albany Symphony
• Amy Heald, Executive Director, The Reno Chamber Orchestra
• Jessica Ruiz, Director, KD SCHMID US

Six orchestra leaders will serve as mentors: Jennifer Barlament, Executive Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; Anna Kuwabara, Executive and Arts Education Consultant; Kim Noltemy, President & Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Melia Tourangeau, President & CEO, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; and Dr. Andrea Warren, President & CEO, Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

"The Anne Parsons Leadership Program provides a golden opportunity for professionals with leadership potential to learn from established field leaders while developing their own support network of peers," said Simon Woods, League of American Orchestras President and CEO. "I’m so grateful to the mentors for sharing their expertise, as Anne always did, and I can’t wait to see where these talented professionals’ careers take them."