Now firmly in its second century, The Cleveland Orchestra, under the leadership of Franz Welser-Möst since 2002, is one of the most sought-after performing ensembles in the world. Year after year, the ensemble exemplifies extraordinary artistic excellence, creative programming, and community engagement. In recent years, The New York Times has called Cleveland “the best in America” for its virtuosity, elegance of sound, variety of color, and chamber-like musical cohesion.
Founded by Adella Prentiss Hughes, the Orchestra performed its inaugural concert in December 1918. By the middle of the century, decades of growth and sustained support had turned the ensemble into one of the most admired around the world.
The past decade has seen an increasing number of young people attending concerts, bringing fresh attention to The Cleveland Orchestra’s legendary sound and committed programming. More recently, the Orchestra launched several bold digital projects, including the streaming platform Adella.live and its own recording label. Together, they have captured the Orchestra’s unique artistry and the musical achievements of the Welser-Möst and Cleveland Orchestra partnership.
The 2024 – 25 season marks Franz Welser-Möst’s 23rd year as Music Director, a period in which The Cleveland Orchestra has earned unprecedented acclaim around the world, including a series of residencies at the Musikverein in Vienna, the first of its kind by an American orchestra, and a number of celebrated opera presentations.
Since 1918, seven music directors — Nikolai Sokoloff, Artur Rodziński, Erich Leinsdorf, George Szell, Lorin Maazel, Christoph von Dohnányi, and Franz Welser-Möst — have guided and shaped the ensemble’s growth and sound. Through concerts at home and on tour, broadcasts, and a catalog of acclaimed recordings, The Cleveland Orchestra is heard today by a growing group of fans around the world.
The Chief Brand Officer is responsible for protecting, shaping, and growing the orchestra’s brand position by directing all marketing, sales, and communication activities. The primary goal of this position is to extend the reach and size of the fanbase by improving the Orchestra’s accessibility, relevance, and value proposition to guests locally, nationally, and internationally. This position currently oversees four separate business units, managing 60 full-time employees and $20M of the Orchestra’s annual revenue budget.
Current responsibilities specifically include: the creation, management, and evaluation of marketing strategies that achieve the Orchestra’s Northeast Ohio earned revenue and capacity utilization goals for programs at Severance and Blossom Music Centers; oversight of all internal and external public relations and communication strategies; direction of the Center for Future Audiences; oversight of the Miami residency including plans for sales, communications, and net margin; the strategic implementation of The Cleveland Orchestra Membership and Rewards programs; building the highest level of guest experience with the venues and events, front of house, retail and rental sales departments; management of all elements of the orchestra’s digital platform, Adella; executive production of all TCO Media products, including streaming series of In Focus, Symphony, and podcast On a Personal Note; oversight of the Orchestra’s extensive archives.