The Biden-Harris Administration has made four appointments to senior positions at the National Endowment for the Arts. Ra Joy will become chief of staff. He has served previously as executive director for CHANGE Illinois, a nonpartisan coalition … » Read

Melissa Ngan, founder of the Chicago-based new music group Fifth House Ensemble, project consultant to the Cleveland Orchestra, among others, is to succeed Edward Yim as president and CEO of the American Composers Orchestra (ACO). Yim has been … » Read

PARIS (AFP)—The Paris Opera vowed an overhaul of its recruiting practices yesterday as it launched a drive towards greater diversity in the heart of its elite ballet company, orchestra, and dance school. The issue has already sparked fierce … » Read

Christopher Plummer, the dashing award-winning actor who played Captain von Trapp in the film The Sound of Music and at 82 became the oldest Academy Award winner in history, has died. He was 91. Plummer died Friday morning, Feb. 5, 2021, at his … » Read

Chicago’s Hubbard Street Dance Company has turned to one of its own, former company dancer Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, as its new artistic director. She replaces Glenn Edgerton, in the position since 2009, and takes over on March 1, 2021. … » Read

HarrisonParrott has announced two new signings, guitarist Sean Shibe [pictured] for worldwide management and the Baroque quartet NeverMind for general management. Shibe, formerly with Rayfield Allied in London, recently signed a multiple album … » Read

Ching-Lien Wu, artistic manager of the Chorus of Dutch National Opera since 2014, is to become choirmaster of the Opéra national de Paris as of April 26. The Taipei-born conductor is the first woman to hold the post at the French opera … » Read

Acclaimed organist John Weaver died on February 1 at age 83. Details were not available from the Curtis Institute, which announced his death, and where he headed the organ department from 1972 to 2003. He joined the Juilliard faculty in the same … » Read

Liz Cass, executive director of the nonprofit Armstrong Community Music School in Austin, Texas, tells USA Today that social media is playing a huge role in elevating the profile of young musicians. At the moment, she is following the careers of … » Read

A collection of letters and other documents revealing the tumultuous personal life of Enrico Caruso is being sold in London. “These letters tell a gripping story,” says Thomas Venning, head of Books and Manuscripts at … » Read