The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia Appoints William Rhoads as Executive Director

The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia is pleased to announce the appointment of William "Bill" Rhoads as its new Executive Director, following a nationwide search. Rhoads comes to the COP from the prestigious Orchestra of St. Luke's in NYC, where he has served as Vice President of Marketing & Communications since 2006. At COP, Philadelphia's world-renowned chamber orchestra, he will oversee the management of the organization and guide its future direction.

"We are thrilled to have Bill join us at the start of our 2016-17 Season, which is already an exciting year for us in many ways," says Susan Schwartz McDonald, President of the Board of Trustees. "Bill's extraordinary range of talents and accomplishments, and his innovative thinking about audience development, make him the ideal executive leader for an orchestra that has very high artistic aspirations and bold vision."

A twenty-year veteran of the classical music industry, Rhoads has had a multi-faceted career as a publishing, production, recording, programming, and marketing executive in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. His 10-year tenure at Orchestra of St. Luke's marked a period of unparalleled expansion for that institution. Rhoads played a key role in establishing and maintaining several strategic partnerships and collaborations, including the opening of The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, and he was the driving force behind the launch of several new programs and series - among them, the Youth Orchestra of St. Luke's (YOSL), 45below young member program, St. Luke's Subway Series, the Notable Women Festival, and the OSL@DMC series.

Said Board treasurer, Daisy Van den Hooff-Mertens, who stepped in to manage COP during the search process, "Bill's track record as a strategic thinker, sound fiscal manager, and creative collaborator impressed everyone who met him. He's not just an exceptional professional, he's a remarkably warm and engaging colleague. He quite literally 'wowed' the Search Committee with his energy, his ideas, and his breadth of talent. He met or exceeded our requirements on every single dimension."

"I am excited and honored by the opportunity to move this deeply loved and respected institution forward as its Executive Director," said Rhoads. "There is a palpable feeling of energy and dedication to COP's vision and success among the Board, the musicians, patrons, and staff that I found truly inspiring. We are poised to do great things as an institution, and I look forward to working with all our partners, constituents, and supporters in the coming years to present musical programs and experiences that enrich the entire Philadelphia community."

In addition to his broad experience at Orchestra of St. Luke's, Rhoads brings a diverse background in music publishing, production, and arts representation that give him the perspective and agility needed for vigorous leadership at a time when arts organizations are looking to diversify audience constituencies and broaden their funding base. During his tenure as Director of Concert Music at Carl Fischer Music, that company underwent a vibrant transformation built on effective capitalization of its publishing catalog and innovative representation of its talent roster, which expanded to include some of the most important composers of their generations. Under the auspices of his own marketing, production, and publishing company, Bill Rhoads & Associates, Rhoads represented a wide variety of clients, including Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Ornette Coleman, C.F. Peters Publishing, and Arabesque Recordings. A passionate advocate for the arts, he has been a guest lecturer and adviser to arts organizations, as well as a composer in his own right.

Now entering its 52nd season, the COP is a founding resident company of The KimMel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs in Perelman Auditorium. Its reputation for music excellence has been built on a traditional repertoire of baroque and classical music integrated with diverse programming that has included many newly commissioned works by contemporary composers and performances by promising young soloists.

Ken Jarin, Chairman of the COP Board noted, "I've been associated with the COP for two decades, and I've never been more excited about the future of this organization than I am today. We want to inspire musical taste, not just satisfy it. Bill Rhoads knows how to develop arts partnerships and creative collaborations that will help us fulfill our mission."

Added McDonald, "What we aspire to do as a chamber orchestra is to create an intimate connection to music performance based on our scale and our unique audience engagement. This is an important moment for us. We're true to our roots but spreading our wings. Bill Rhoads is going to give us the lift we need to do that."

About the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia:

Now entering its 52nd year, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia is a prestigious musical ensemble that performs an annual concert series in Perelman Auditorium of the KimMel Center under the baton of Music Director and renowned composer, Maestro (Sir) Dirk Brossé. Recognized for an eclectic repertoire that includes beloved masterpieces as well as important new commissions, and a history of featured performances by luminaries like Pavarotti and Rostropovich, COP aims to strengthen audience engagement - and nurture the next generation of classical concert-goers -- with an intimate and creatively curated musical experience.

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