Executive Director, Reading Symphony Orchestra

The Reading Symphony Orchestra welcomes nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director, available in the Fall of 2023.

The Organization

Founded in 1913, the Reading Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest orchestras in continuous operation in the country, providing uninterrupted access to exceptional classical music for the citizens of Berks County and beyond for 110 years.  The Orchestra performs six concerts annually in the Classical series and offers Pops performances and collaborations with other performing arts organizations in the community.

The Reading Symphony maintains a robust schedule of education and community engagement programs.  The Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra and Junior String Programs provide opportunities for talented area music students to work on challenging classical repertoire with a high-caliber artistic staff.  The Orchestra Zone program provides free private instrumental music lessons to students in the Reading School District.  A Masterclass series gives community members an opportunity to work directly with visiting solo artists.

The Reading Symphony has earned a reputation for excellence that has attracted some of the finest orchestra musicians on the east coast to audition and travel regularly to perform as members of the orchestra.  Reading Symphony musicians substitute in many of the region’s major orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

The Reading Symphony is governed by a Board of 20 community leaders and has an operating budget of $1.8 million.   The Orchestra has two full-time and five part-time staff members.  Andrew Constantine is Music Director of the Reading Symphony Orchestra.

www.readingsymphony.org

The Opportunity

The next Executive Director will take a leadership role in an organization with a proud history of serving audiences of all ages throughout the area with a rich array of outstanding concerts, musical experiences, and educational programs.  Building on a sound financial foundation, the Executive Director will work with a dedicated Board of Directors to develop future growth opportunities for the Reading Symphony, expand the Orchestra’s reach throughout the region, attract new audiences, and strengthen the Orchestra’s earned and contributed income base.

The Position

The Executive Director is the chief administrative officer of the Reading Symphony and reports to the Board of Directors through the President.  The ED provides the leadership that allows the Reading Symphony to realize its vision, fulfill its mission, and achieve its goals for artistic, financial, and organizational success.

The Executive Director manages the organization’s human and financial resources.  The ED is responsible and accountable for all aspects of the Reading Symphony’s operations, including: strategic planning; program development and artistic administration; concert production; fundraising; budgeting and financial management; marketing and public relations; education programs; and community engagement.  The Executive Director ensures that the Reading Symphony fulfills its commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and access in all policies, programs, and activities, both internal and external.

The Executive Director works in partnership with the Music Director to attract the finest musicians from the tri-state area and to maintain an environment that supports creativity and allows the Music Director, orchestra musicians, and guest artists to do their best work.  The ED oversees the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement between the musicians and management.

The Executive Director is responsible for the financial management of the Reading Symphony.  The ED develops, implements, and monitors operating and program budgets, monitors cash flow, and ensures compliance with grant requirements.  The ED provides the Board with monthly financial reports.

The Executive Director is the organization’s chief fundraiser.  The Executive Director provides guidance, impetus, and support to the fundraising efforts of the Board.  The Executive Director establishes and maintains productive relationships with individuals, foundations, corporate sponsors, and local civic funders to ensure that Reading Symphony achieves or exceeds its contributed income goals from all sources.

The Executive Director works closely with the Board President to identify and recruit board members, to ensure effective governance, and create continuity of leadership for the organization.  The Executive Director provides staff support to the Board and its committees and ensures that the Board has the timely and accurate information it needs for decision-making.  The Executive Director recruits, motivates, supervises, evaluates, and provides leadership to a high caliber administrative staff.

The Executive Director is the chief spokesperson for the Reading Symphony in the community. The ED establishes and maintains productive working relationships with other arts, educational, and community organizations in the area and seeks opportunities for partnerships that support the mission and goals of the Reading Symphony.  The Executive Director is an active member of the Reading community.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be an outstanding leader with at least five years’ progressive experience in orchestra or performing arts management.  The successful candidate will combine a passion for music with a highly developed knowledge of symphony orchestras, artistic administration, fundraising, financial management, audience development, and orchestra operations.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with the ability to inspire and align all stakeholders around an exciting vision for the organization’s growth and development. The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic fundraiser with demonstrated skills in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of donors and stewardship of gifts.  The successful candidate will have strong communication, marketing, digital, and social media skills.  The successful candidate will be able to speak and write persuasively about the value and importance of the Reading Symphony.

The successful candidate will be a collaborator and a consensus builder. The successful candidate will have the demonstrated ability to work effectively with a music director, orchestra musicians, and other creative artists in a collective bargaining environment. The successful candidate will have the ability to inspire and motivate Board, staff, and volunteers to realize the Reading Symphony’s vision and achieve their shared goals.

The successful candidate will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards.  The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong personal commitment to the principles of equity, inclusion, and access.  The successful candidate will be imaginative, curious, flexible, and resilient.  The successful candidate will welcome the opportunity to be an active part of the greater Reading community.

Compensation

The compensation range for this position is $95,000 to $105,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.

Applications

The Reading Symphony is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of the organization and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or national origin.

Please send a cover letter outlining your specific interest in the Reading Symphony and your qualifications for this position.  Include a résumé, salary requirements, and contact information for at least three references. Electronic submissions are requested.  All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be called without the candidate’s prior knowledge and agreement.
Please send materials to:

Reading Symphony Orchestra

c/o Catherine French Group

2500 Q Street NW, Suite 623

Washington, DC  20007

applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com

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