Currently in its 72nd season, the TOLEDO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA seeks an experienced President & CEO, who is a consummate professional and collaborative manager, to lead one of premier symphonic orchestras in the Midwest The TSO currently reaches more than 260,000 individuals annually through its performances and education programs
ORGANIZATION
The TSO has had an illustrious history, featuring the greatest international soloists of the past century, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Isaac Stern, Aaron Copland, Itzhak Perlman, and Andre Watts. In keeping with the quality of its artists, the TSO has stretched its audiences through unusual repertoire selections of debuts and premieres of works by composers like Alban Berg and Edgar Varese, included programs with the three major Stravinsky ballets in one evening, and presented an unstaged performance of Wagner’s Rheingold.
The TSO’s primary performance venue is the Peristyle Theater on the stunning Toledo Museum of Art Campus. This acoustically appropriate classical concert hall has a curving row of 28 Ionic columns that surround the main seating area, arranged in tiers reminiscent of theaters of ancient Greece. The 1,750-seat Peristyle was built as part of the Museum’s 1933 major expansion. Additional TSO concerts are presented at other performing arts venues and community facilities in the region and its series concerts are the critical underpinning of the orchestra’s artistic mission, regularly drawing audiences from more than 40 communities.
The TSO’s current marketing campaign – Bold. Powerful. Lively. Inspiring. – is indicative of the vibrancy and strength of both the programming and the orchestra’s capacity to engage its current and future audiences. The TSO has built a strong reputation nationally for its artistic excellence and creative collaborations centered on the 65 full-time TSO professional musicians who are augmented by other high caliber players as the repertoire demands. Projects with local arts and culture organizations are a hallmark of the TSO’s innovative work, which currently includes the Degas Exhibition at the Toledo Museum of Art and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring with the Toledo Ballet. Led by Principal Conductor Stefan Sanderling who completes his tenure at the TSO in 2016-2017, the current season is varied and imaginative featuring audience favorites, including, Mozart’s Late Symphonies plus Grieg’s and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concertos, as well as lesser known works such as Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis and Say’s Gezi Park 1, Concerto. The TSO’s Pops Series encompasses a myriad of modern entertainment options, engaging audiences of all ages and musical tastes at the Stranahan Theater, which seats over 2,400. This season’s panoply of offerings varies from the Music of John Williams to the Music of the Rolling Stones to Cirque de Noël.
Education is a core element of the TSO’s mission, and both the TSO School of Music, housed in the Professional Building, and its integrated programming demonstrate its commitment to engaging youth throughout the region. The Family Series introduces children to the beauty of classical music in a fun environment with pre-concert activities and an instrumental petting zoo. Additional education programs, student performances, and community concerts are held in schools, neighborhood churches, performing arts centers, and community facilities throughout the region; many are offered at no charge or provided at a reduced fee to help expand participation. A perennial favorite is Music Under the Stars, a free summer band concert series, held annually at the Toledo Zoo.
The administration currently has 19 FTEs and several part-time permanent positions. Additionally, the search for a new Principal Conductor will begin under the aegis of the new President & CEO, as the Principal Conductor will report to this position. The current Principal Conductor, Stefan Sanderling, will conclude his tenure in 2017. The TSO is governed by a 42-member Board of Trustees led by Chairman Randy Oostra. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, the TSO had total revenue of $5.9 million, including contributions and grants of $3.7 million, and total expenses of $5.55 million. The TSO has a generous endowment, currently valued at more than $18 million, which was founded in 1971 by a Ford Foundation grant.
COMMUNITY
Toledo lies on the west bank of the Maumee River surrounded by scenic parks, waterways, trails, and captivating wildlife that all provide the ideal habitat for those who love the outdoors. Toledo experiences four distinct seasons; however the winds off of Lake Erie moderate the temperatures and prevent the extreme amounts of snowfall found in the surrounding Snow Belt. The area offers a wealth of year-round water activities, including world-class fishing and boating on its coastlines and islands, and has been nicknamed the Water Recreation Capital of the Midwest. Additionally, the area boasts the renowned Maumee Bay State Park Golf Course resort designed by Arthur Hills, as well as areas for horseback riding, biking, and rollerblading at one of the nine Metroparks. The Metroparks of the Toledo Area seek to preserve many of the region’s most significant natural areas and spans over 10,500 acres.
Originally the city of Toledo derived its income from its port during the era of great automobile expansion when it became a hub. Even today many automotive parts are manufactured in Toledo by Dana, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler. Toledo is also known as the Glass City, as several large glass companies had their origins here, many innovations in the industry occurred here, and the industry and its offshoot, fiberglass, continues to thrive in the region. The Toledo Museum of Art has one of the finest collections of glassware in the world at its Glass Pavilion and curates the history of this local industry. Manufacturing no longer drives the local economy as the city has received significant interest and growth in “green jobs” due to economic development around solar energy. Green companies like First Solar opened plants in Toledo and the surrounding area to invest in the future of new industries in Toledo. Additionally, the economy is supported by the global healthcare industry with ProMedica and HCR Manor Care employing thousands.
The local population is almost 300,000 and the greater metropolitan Toledo area has 650,000 residents, who enjoy a wide variety of cultural opportunities, including The Toledo Repertory Theatre, The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Ballet, and the Toledo Opera amongst others. Due to the renovation of The Valentine Theater and the construction of the Huntington Center downtown, Toledo has become an attractive stop on many national tours in recent years. Celebrating over 50 years of arts leadership, the Arts Commission has administered the City of Toledo’s 1% for Art ordinance, which has, since 1977, set aside one percent of the capital improvement budget for arts programs. This ordinance has helped populate the city with an assortment of outdoor public works of art and was the first of its kind in Ohio and among the first in the nation. For animal lovers, the Toledo Zoo is ranked one of the best in the nation and its animal collection consists of thousands of mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates, representing 750+ exotic species from all over the world.
Toledo is a city on the rise, where opportunities abound with the area’s talent pool, capital, and networks. Bowling Green University, Owens Community College, Lourdes University, and the University of Toledo provide opportunity for college degrees and continued education. The area is affordable for young professionals as the cost of living in Toledo is 25 percent below the national average. Residents old and new appreciate Toledo’s extraordinary mixture of opportunity, culture, accessibility, beauty, and affordability, evidenced by Toledo inclusion among Forbes 2014 America’s Most Affordable Cities (#11). Sources: www.Forbes.com, www.theartscommission.org, www.doToledo.org, www.utoledo.edu,www.bestplaces.net
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Board of Directors and working in partnership with the Principal Conductor, the President & CEO will be a community leader, generally, as well as a goal-oriented leader of the TSO, specifically, who will implement structure, process, and procedures to meet mutually agreed upon objectives. As a consensus-builder, s/he will strengthen and build the TSO team, empowering and including all constituents of the TSO to collaborate in order to achieve its artistic, audience engagement, and financial goals. The President & CEO will be responsible for best practices in maximizing contributed and earned revenue, creating a culture of learning and providing staff leadership and mentorship, systematizing all possible processes to increase efficiency, spearheading strategic short- and long-range planning, and cultivating audience and community relationships. The President & CEO will demonstrate knowledge of and the ability to implement best business practices, accept fiscal accountability, and achieve audience impact goals. As a dynamic and energetic communicator, s/he will embrace a forward-thinking institutional vision that incorporates innovation in programming, collaboration amongst all arts and culture organizations, and an emphasis on educational opportunities for all citizens, revitalizing the unique brand of the TSO.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In keeping with the reputation of a nationally recognized high quality orchestra, responsibilities of the President & CEO include:
Revenue Enhancement
Lead the Toledo Symphony Orchestra Board and staff in efforts to develop strategies, establish systems and protocols, define messaging, and identify individuals and organizations to guarantee earned and contributed revenues meet organizational objectives.
Serve as the chief fundraiser and spokesperson for the organization, direct all fundraising, including collaborating with Development staff in donor identification, prospecting, and stewardship of all fundraising activities with special attention to major gift cultivation and solicitation.
Build a development program and staff structure that will support the achievement of significantly increased giving to annual campaigns and special projects, with personal emphasis on expanding the TSO’s access to major gifts donors and corporate/foundation leadership.
Strategize the organization’s development programs, including its annual operating, endowment, and planned giving efforts.
Build relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agency funders and direct Board and staff to do the same.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the current marketing campaigns of the TSO and provide direction and structure to staff to maximize income from ticket sales and other earned revenue sources. In collaboration with the Principal Conductor, create new, innovative, and increased program offerings.
Branding and Institutional Visibility
Guide the revitalization of the public image, visibility, and increased brand awareness of the TSO, clearly articulating its mission, vision, programs, and impact.
Communicate the accomplishments and artistic mission of the organization to the public through the media and at public speaking engagements in tandem with the Principal Conductor and Chair of the Board.
Build new business relationships in the local and regional community.
Continue to build and maintain rewarding and high-profile relationships in the local, national, and international music community with the Principal Conductor.
Operational and Strategic Planning
Develop, implement, and monitor the Orchestra’s artistic and educational objectives with the vision and leadership that ensures the TSO achieves its goals for artistic excellence, financial stability, and audience and community engagement.
Oversee short-term operational and long-range strategic planning and implementation processes, including review and innovation of the organization’s human, financial, and technological resources.
Govern negotiated contractual matters with presented orchestras, performance venues, and other strategic partners.
Governance
Provide guidance that best utilizes the talents and resources of the Board. Stimulate involvement and work closely with the Board to ensure fiscal health and effective policy setting, community ambassadorship, and general governance of the organization.
Assist the Nominating Committee in Board prospect identification, cultivation, and recruitment.
Orient, educate, and engage Board members to maximize their effectiveness.
Develop processes with Board leadership regarding evaluation, celebration, and succession planning for Board members.
Financial Management
Oversee the fiscal soundness of the organization, including preparation, reporting, and monitoring annual operating budgets with accuracy, timeliness, and a view towards long-term financial stability.
Monitor and authorize major expenditures.
Collaborate with the Finance Director on the presentation of updated projections, monthly financial statements, and cash flow projections for Board review and approval.
Administration
Establish and maintain an environment with appropriate infrastructure that supports orchestra musicians, conductors, guest artists, Board, staff, and volunteers that allows them to do their best work.
Attract, develop, and maintain high caliber staff, providing leadership and motivation, and ensuring that staff has the support and information they need to make sound decisions; evaluate staff performance annually or more often, as needed.
Supervise the administrative planning to ensure the organization is effectively structured and staffed.
Create open lines of communication to all staff, creating a team atmosphere, and developing trust and cohesion within the organization.
TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The President & CEO will bring broad leadership knowledge and experience to the effective management team and organizational structure that serves the TSO’s mission, vision, goals, and artistic leadership. S/he will have the ability to articulately communicate and reinforce common interests, priorities, and opportunities in support of the artistic and organizational vision. A consummate professional and collaborative manager who enjoys building and working with a team to achieve impactful goals, the selected individual will have a proven track record and possess exceptional organizational, fundraising, and communication skills. The President & CEO must be a diplomatic leader who will be able to communicate with diverse stakeholders and engage at every level of the greater Toledo community. The selected candidate will act as a partner to the Principal Conductor and the Board, value knowledge and intellectual growth, and realize the importance of the effective investment of time and resources that is required to advance TSO’s goals.
The President & CEO will be a high-level professional with knowledge of industry standards and organizational management. In addition, s/the will possess the following competencies:
Diplomacy and Interpersonal Skills: The capacity to embrace different points of view constructively, resolve conflicts, and bring cohesion to a wide array of stakeholders while interacting with them in a positive manner, treating them fairly, and listening carefully to what they have to say.
Leadership and Personal Accountability: The ability to organize and motivate other people to accomplish goals, while always setting an example by assuming accountability for business and personal actions.
Persuasion and Decision Making: Utilizing effective processes to make decisions while listening to others, and guide them, convincing them to change the way they think, believe, or behave.
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10-15 years of senior management experience, particularly in maximizing both earned and contributed revenue. Qualified applicants will have a Bachelor’s degree, an advanced degree, MBA, or equivalent experience in the performing arts or nonprofit management, with other high profile and inter/nationally recognized organizations. A passion for classical music is essential. Expertise and interest in organizational development is highly desirable.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Generous compensation package commensurate with experience, including health, life, and dental insurance; vacation, holiday, and sick pay; an employee retirement plan.
APPLICATIONS AND INQUIRIES
Please submit a letter and resume by electronic submission with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments to:
Mr. Dale Hedding, Vice President
Arts Consulting Group, Inc.
1718 M Street NW, Suite 283
Washington, DC 20036-4504
Tel (888) 234.4236 Ext. 2
Cell (443) 248.0164
Fax (888) 284.6651
E-mail TSO@ArtsConsulting.com