Chicago Sinfonietta's New CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson talks career, diversity and the future with LeeAnn Trotter of NBC5 in Chicago

Entertainment reporter LeeAnn Trotter of Chicago's NBC5 sits down with Blake-Anthony Johnson, Chicago Sinfonietta's new Chief Executive Officer to discuss his journey from cellist to administrator, how he came to be actively involved in diversity, equity and inclusion, the importance of community programs, his focus for the orchestra moving forward and more on the 4:00 PM news on Chicago NBC5 today.

 

 

The first African American executive to guide a nationally renowned orchestra, in May 2020 Blake-Anthony Johnson was named Chief Executive Officer at the age of 29 of Chicago Sinfonietta, an award-winning organization acclaimed as a cultural leader in the field and a powerful champion of diversity, equity and inclusion. A former professional cellist and a civically engaged leader who sits on the Steering Committee of Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, Johnson is also a champion of arts education, and is a member of the Faculty at Roosevelt University’s Chicago Conservatory of Performing Arts. Additionally, Mr. Johnson is a Trustee and Advisory Board Member for several organizations across the country that focus on criminal justice reform, healthcare, and eliminating inter-generational poverty. More details can be found here.

 

LeeAnn Trotter, Entertainment Reporter for Chicago NBC 5, is an local Emmy award winning journalist. Covering all things entertainment, she also is a regular contributor to "Making a Difference" segments. Prior to joining NBC 5 in December 2005, Ms. Trotter worked at CLTV for eight years, anchoring the weekend news and hosted the award winning entertainment show, "Metromix: The TV Show." Previous posts include serving as the News and Public Affairs Director at WUSN-FM, where she reported news on the morning show and hosted, "Chicago Up Close," a weekly public affairs show, and brief stints at Fox News and WGN Radio. Ms. Trott er began her broadcasting career at WBBM Newsradio 780, where she held numerous positions, including production manager and traffic reporter. A Chicago, Illinois native, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, and attended high school at the Latin School of Chicago.