Alan Silow, CEO, the Santa Rosa Symphony
Our speaker for June 8, 2023, was Alan Silow.
Alan joined the Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestra as its CEO & President in 2002, when it was a good quality, but minor orchestra among the approximately 150 Regional Orchestras in California. Over his 21-year tenure, he was guided by 3 tenets:
1. BHAG -- Big, Hairy Audacious Goals 2. Passionate Dedication to Mission and Vision 3. Persistence
And some of his major accomplishments, working with a dedicated staff, musicians and board were:
1. The Green Music Center, which took 9 years longer to complete (2012 vs. 2003 original estimate) and $100 million more ($140 million vs. $40 million original estimate). Now, arguably, one of the finest concert halls in the U.S. and THE finest for a Regional Orchestra in the country.
2. Development of one of the best Music Educational Programs among all orchestras in the country. With 4 Youth Orchestras, including Simply Strings for young grade-schoolers, which our Club has supported financially. Many of these youth programs serve our Latino community and have changed lives!
3. Financial stability has been the hallmark of Alan's tenure, growing the budget from $1.7 to over $5 million, the endowment from under $5 million to $17 million, and operating every year in the black, even during the Great Recession and the Pandemic.
It's a remarkable record, and our community is the benefactor of it.
Alan worked with three talented Music Directors over the course of his 21 years that he likened to marriages. the latest, Francesco Lecce-Chong, age 32, brings charismatic energy and innovation that helped see the orchestra through natural disasters and the pandemic. Thank-you Alan.
Click HERE to see a limited time recording of Alan's presentation.
