Competitive Annual Incentive Pay, Generous Benefits and Flex Time
The Vice President of Orchestra and Production (VPOP) provides leadership and oversees orchestra management and concert production, guided by the vision and strategies in the CSO’s Strategic Plan. A member of the Senior Management team, the position: 1) serves as an advocate for the Orchestra and nurtures a strong rapport with union and Orchestra leadership; 2) produces an unparalleled concert experience for audiences that furthers the reputation of the CSO as a destination for musicians worldwide and as a community leader.
Duties and Responsibilities:
A close partner to the COO, shape a work environment that supports healthy relationships among all internal constituents, while advancing the CSO’ vision to be the most relevant orchestra in America.
Oversee the Orchestra calendar, utilizing Orchestra services in the most effective manner and in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, as well as the scheduling and confirmation of dates and calendar entries at Music Hall and other venues for all Orchestra services. With the artistic and operations teams, serve as primary management liaison with the Players Committee, various Orchestra committees, and AFM Local 1 as appropriate.
With the artistic team and input from the Music Director and the COO, oversee the production of all CSO programs. Execute, plan and research the CSO’s media, residency and touring strategies.
Attend concerts and events frequently to gain additional insight into the performance of the Orchestra, sharing perspectives and observations with the COO and Music Director.
Lead and implement strategies, in collaboration with the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion to address internal culture, accessibility, recruitment, and retention of Orchestra and operations personnel, and other areas relevant to the operations of the organization.
Oversee the preparation of and monitor budgets for concert productions, as well as departmental budgets including Orchestra overhead, stage crews and operations.
Guide the Director of Orchestra Personnel on sensitive personnel matters that impact programs and interface with artists.
Provide advice and support to the COO in the CSO’s collective bargaining process with Local 1 of the American Federation of Musicians, and lead the CSO’s collective bargaining process with Local 5 IATSE, ensuring productive negotiations that advance the mission, vision, and goals of the organization, and that maintain a harmonious relationship with the musicians and union leaders.
Oversee functions and related activities of the Orchestra library.
Communicate with the Orchestra regarding concert operations.
Serve as primary contractual liaison and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships with Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet. Partner with COO on any re-negotiation of relationship agreements.
Participate actively or collaborate with national organizations such as the League of American Orchestras, the American Federation of Musicians, and the International Conference of Symphony and Orchestra Musicians to stay informed of trends and general activities in the orchestra and performing arts sector.
Perform other duties as needed or directed.
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Direct Reports: Director of Orchestra Personnel, Director of Operations, Principal Librarian
A minimum of seven years of experience in a director or senior-level position with an orchestra or performing arts organization is required. Qualified candidates will demonstrate extensive knowledge of orchestral music, awareness of current trends and best practices in orchestra management, and a keen interest in collaborating with musicians. Successful candidates will also have experience successfully managing in a complex, fast paced organization with multiple programs, venues, entities and events.
The Vice President of Orchestra & Production will be a collaborative and dedicated leader with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. A people-oriented leader and persuasive communicator, they will be comfortable interacting with multiple constituencies and easily adapt to differing situations. Resourceful and flexible, they will possess excellent organizational and project management skills. They will demonstrate a commitment to advancing the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, which also performs as the Cincinnati Pops, is one of America’s finest and most versatile ensembles. With a determination for greatness and a rich tradition that dates back over 120 years, the internationally acclaimed CSO attracts the best musicians, artists and conductors from around the world to Cincinnati. With new commissions and groundbreaking initiatives like LUMENOCITY®, One City, One Symphony, The Pelléas Trilogy, and the MusicNOW Festival collaboration, the Orchestra is committed to being a place of experimentation.
Louis Langrée began his tenure as the CSO's 13th Music Director in the 2013/14 season with a celebrated program The New York Times said “deftly combined nods to the orchestra's history, the city's musical life and new music.” Over the Orchestra's 122-year history, it has also been led by Leopold Stokowski, Eugène Ysaÿe, Fritz Reiner, Eugene Goossens, Max Rudolf, Thomas Schippers, Jesús López-Cobos, and Paavo Järvi, among others.
A champion of new music, the Orchestra has given American premieres of works by such composers as Debussy, Ravel, Mahler and Bartók and has commissioned works that have since become mainstays of... the classical repertoire, including Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man. The Orchestra continues to commission new works and to program an impressive array of music. In recent years, the CSO has performed the world premieres of Nico Muhly's Pleasure Ground, David Lang's mountain, Caroline Shaw's Lo and Daniel Bjarnason's Collider as part of the groundbreaking collaboration with the MusicNOW Festival, as well as the world premiere of André Previn's Double Concerto. More recent commissions include Gunther Schuller’s Symphonic Triptych, Michael Fiday’s Three for One, three works set to the poetry of Dr. Maya Angelou by T. J. Cole, Jonathan Bailey Holland and Kristin Kuster, as well three new concertos for orchestra by composers Sebastian Currier, Thierry Escaich and Zhou Tian, which are featured on the Orchestra’s most recent commercial recording.
The CSO was the first American orchestra to make a world tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and continues to tour domestically and internationally, most recently to Asia in March 2017 and a three-week European tour in August and September of the same year. The CSO has performed at New York's Carnegie Hall 48 times since its debut there in 1917, most recently to rave reviews in May of 2014. In January of 2016, the Orchestra performed at New York’s Lincoln Center as part of the invitational Great Performers series.