URBANA, Illinois
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Costa Mesa, California
Amherst, Massachusetts
Posted: 14-May-26
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Type: Full Time
Salary: $110,000 to $120,000
Categories:
Salary Details:
SITUATION OVERVIEW:
ZRG Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Symphony Tacoma in the search for an
Executive Director.
ABOUT SYMPHONY TACOMA:
For 79 years, Symphony Tacoma has been a vital part of Tacoma’s cultural landscape, inspiring
audiences through live musical experiences that both honor tradition and push beyond it.
Founded in 1946 by 30 volunteer musicians from the University of Puget Sound, the organization
was professionalized in 1993 under the leadership of Harvey Felder, now Conductor Laureate.
Today, more than 80 professional musicians and a volunteer chorus of 70 perform annually for
nearly 20,000 residents across Pierce County and the greater Puget Sound region.
Symphony Tacoma’s core season includes five main-series classical concerts, holiday choral
pops, an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, and educational concerts. Performances are
presented primarily at the historic Pantages Theater, where Symphony Tacoma has been a
principal resident arts organization for more than 30 years. The orchestra partners with a
dynamic range of global soloists and visiting composers, presenting adventurous programming
designed to serve and inspire Tacoma’s community. Symphony Tacoma is widely recognized as
a flagship musical organization within a vibrant regional ecosystem of professional and
community-based ensembles. Symphony Tacoma further engages the community through a trio of education programs—Mini Maestros, Simply Symphonic, and Symphony 2U—as well as through community events
designed to expand access to classical music beyond the concert hall. Collectively, these
programs serve more than 7,000 people annually, from early childhood through adulthood.
For families, Mini Maestros is a four-concert series that offers whimsical, educational
performances for children ages two to eight and their caregivers. Each concert highlights a
different family of orchestral instruments and includes hands-on “instrument petting zoos” that
allow children to explore and play. In schools, Simply Symphonic equips fourth- and fifth-grade
teachers with training and classroom-ready music curriculum. Students learn songs through
singing or recorder instruction and culminate the experience each spring by attending and
performing with Symphony Tacoma in a live concert at the Pantages Theater.
Symphony 2U provides instruction, coaching, and adult mentorship for underserved students
across elementary, middle, and high schools. Through eight in-school programs, one-to-one
coaching, and masterclasses led by Symphony Tacoma musicians, the program supports young
musicians who might not otherwise have access to private instruction. For adult learners,
Symphony Tacoma partners with prominent Pierce County arts institutions including Cascade
Conducting, Pacific Lutheran University, and the University of Puget Sound. Symphony Tacoma
is deeply committed to its role as a central cultural institution in Tacoma and to the belief that
shared musical experiences strengthen and enrich the community.
Sarah Ioannides, who has served with distinction as Music Director and Conductor since 2014,
has announced that she will step down at the end of the 2025/2026 season. The search for
Symphony Tacoma’s next Music Director is active (also with ALG facilitating). The 2026/2027
season will be led by five guest conductors. The 2027/2028 season will feature five Music
Director finalist candidates; the next Music Director will assume the role in 2028.
POSITION:
The Executive Director (ED) will serve as the chief executive and administrative leader of
Symphony Tacoma and work in close partnership with the Board of Directors, Music Director,
and General Manager to advance the organization’s artistic, financial, and strategic goals to
advance the organization’s mission.
Reporting to the Board of Directors through the Board President, the ED will be responsible for
overall management, financial sustainability, fundraising leadership, organizational culture, and
community presence. The successful candidate will be a visionary, collaborative, and results-
driven leader with a demonstrated record of success in nonprofit management, preferably in
the arts, and a deep commitment to community engagement and cultural vitality.
FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
As we approach our 80th Anniversary Season, we are not just seeking an Executive Director;
we are seeking a partner to lead a renaissance, guiding the organization from the challenges
of the pandemic and past leadership transitions into a new era of fiscal discipline, artistic
daring, and profound optimism.
This is not a turnaround job; the heavy lifting of stabilization is done. Through the hard work of
a galvanized, “servant-leader” Board and a dedicated staff, we have emerged from the
COVID-19 crisis and its aftershocks with a clean balance sheet and strong core support from
patrons to institutional funders.
We are now in growth mode, long fueled by artistic vitality. Under the baton of Music Director
Sarah Ioannides, we have explored well beyond traditional programming. We have
commissioned bold world premieres such as The Tacoma Method (confronting the local
Chinese expulsion), The Bleeding Pines (promoting environmental advocacy), and the Eternal
Light Project, which translated youth art into original orchestral works. With seven world
premieres in six years, the art is alive, relevant, and drawing new audiences. As we seek our
next Music Director, you will be part of the search committee, helping to select our next artistic
leader.
We have right-sized our operations to create a transparent, collaborative culture that values
every patron, musician, and donor. We seek a leader who leads through both vision and
action, someone who can think strategically at the 30,000-foot level and is equally willing to
roll up their sleeves alongside the team. You will be expected to honor the deep expertise of
our staff while inspiring them to new heights of collective achievement.
Leadership qualities that will be a strong fit at Symphony Tacoma are grounded in exceptional
interpersonal skills, a proven track record in fundraising, strategic thinking, skillful
collaboration, and the ability to inspire others to join the mission. Our next Executive Director will elevate our fundraising strategy, cultivate meaningful donor relationships, and inspire broader community investment.
From the beginning, your vision will guide the team in strengthening our philanthropy,
broadening and deepening our community of supporters, and ensuring that our advancement
efforts are closely aligned with our artistic and educational ambitions, which are essential to
our long-term success. In this critical effort, you will work alongside staff and the Board,
leveraging audience development, digital strategy, donor cultivation, and earned revenue as
interconnected drivers of strong, lasting relationships and institutional sustainability.
You will also have a strong partner in the City of Tacoma. We are one of the few cities in the
nation with a voter-approved tax dedicated to the arts, supported by Tacoma Creates, which
ensures a steady stream of public funding and a sustained focus on access.
You will also find that in Tacoma, you can afford to buy a home with a view of Mount Rainier
or the Salish Sea, in the woods or in the heart of downtown. The arts scene is second to none,
with young artists flocking to Tacoma and six world-class museums along a two-mile corridor.
Adding to this is the Pantages Theater, where Symphony Tacoma performs. Opened in 1918
and now fully renovated, it is the only Pantages still operating and is a gorgeous setting for
the orchestra.
If you are inspired by the power of music and eager to make a lasting impact, we are seeking
a visionary, strategic leader who will embrace these opportunities and our commitment to the
transformative mission we serve. We look forward to hearing from you.
— Kit Evans, President, Symphony Tacoma Board of Directors
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Executive Director will
- provide strategic leadership in partnership with the Board of Directors, Music Director, and
General Manager to advance mission, vision, and long-term sustainability;
- implement and monitor a multi-year strategic plan with measurable outcomes;
- partner closely with the Music Director, artistic leadership, General Manager, development,
and board leadership to align programming, donor cultivation, and community partnerships
with audience growth objectives and long-term institutional sustainability;
- lead and execute a comprehensive development strategy including individual giving, major
gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, government funding, and special events;
- oversee earned revenue strategy, including subscription campaigns, group sales,
institutional partnerships, and ancillary ticketing initiatives; establish clear KPIs, forecasting
models, and accountability structures to meet or exceed ticket revenue targets;
- ensure highly effective financial operations and best reporting practices aligned with
Symphony Tacoma’s size and resources;
- ensure alignment between artistic programming and financial realities;
- foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence across the organization;
- develop strong relationships with musicians and union leadership, ensuring transparent and
effective communication;
- build a high-performing, collaborative team culture rooted in transparency and shared goals
and promote an inclusive workplace that values diversity, equity, and belonging;
- work closely with the Board of Directors to strengthen governance practices and board
engagement; and
- serve as a visible and active presence in Tacoma and the broader South Sound community
as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the Symphony.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Symphony Tacoma seeks an Executive Director with
- a clear commitment to the mission of Symphony Tacoma and to building community
through music;
- demonstrated, measurable success in fundraising, including major gifts and institutional
funding;
- an ability to build and strengthen board and staff teams;
- a history of successful community engagement and partnership development;
- strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets;
- excellent communication and relationship-building skills;
- experience working with unionized artistic personnel;
- the ability to build meaningful relationships across the South Puget Sound philanthropic,
civic, and cultural communities;
- the willingness to serve as a visible and active presence in Tacoma and the broader South
Sound community as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the Symphony;
- a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and
- at least seven years of senior-level (required) or executive-level (preferred) experience in
nonprofit management.
Experience working with or in partnership with a professional orchestra or performing arts
organization is strongly preferred. Symphony Tacoma will consider candidates with a broad range
of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to the
Symphony, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we
encourage you to apply.
