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Blake-Anthony Johnson, Chicago Sinfonietta president and CEO photographed at Auditorium Theatre (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
CHICAGO, IL - Blake-Anthony Johnson, President & CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, has been named by the Chicago Tribune as "Chicagoan of the Year in Arts 2022, Classical Music."
In the article on Johnson, titled, "Chicagoan of the Year for Classical Music: Chicago Sinfonietta president and CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson leads an orchestra for everyone", early on Hannah Edgar writes," For the past couple of years, all eyes have been on the Chicago Sinfonietta. Some of that attention was nothing new — or, at least, it shouldn’t have been, seeing as the Sinfonietta has championed racial and ethnic diversity onstage, in its audience and in its programming for, oh, 35 years now."
Johnson has increased the number of eyeballs on the organization. "The Sinfonietta’s radical moves come at a time when risk-averse peer orchestras are treading water after the tempest that was the pandemic," writes Edgar. As noted in the article, under his tenure, which began in May 2020, Chicago Sinfonietta has launched the Artist-in-Residence initiative, expanded the flagship Freeman Fellowship program, and all while pivoting to maintain audience and community connection during the pandemic. Most recently, at the Sinfonietta's 35th anniversary gala, Johnson announced a new collaboration with Chicago’s historical Auditorium Theatre, which will become the orchestra’s new home and performance venue in 2023 in addition to Chicago’s Symphony Center and Naperville’s Wentz Concert Hall.
In addition to music and audience diversity, Johnson has also expanded economic diversity, introducing the nationally acclaimed Pay-What-You-Can Program in fall 2021. Praised by The New York Times, the program has inspired classical organizations throughout the nation, resulting in numerous organizations adopting the practice. Johnson also has brought in several notable financial gifts - including a Mellon Foundation Award and a Wallace Foundation Award, all while expanding the organization's mission.
One of the youngest CEOs to lead a classical orchestra in the US, Johnson was 29 when he began his tenure, and "counts a number of classical-world celebrities among his key mentors and collaborators, from “Yo-Yo” to “MTT” to “Teddy” (as in Abrams, the wunderkind director of the Louisville Orchestra, where Johnson worked just prior to the Chicago Sinfonietta)."
Jim Weidner, Chairman of the Board of Chicago Sinfonietta congratulated Mr. Johnson on this honor. "He has taken the mission and passion of this institution to heart, and in doing so has not only expanded the Sinfonietta's reach, but brought a bright, national spotlight to the work this organization has done in the areas of accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion since its founding 35 years ago."
States Johnson, "The long list of Chicago Sinfonietta’s local, national, & international awards in 2022 is a reflection of the institution’s deep bench of incredible artists, staff, board members, volunteers, & patrons that collectively make up the Chicago Sinfonietta.
From my vantage point the one thing I’m sure of is that success & teamwork are synonymous."
Johnson's fellow recipients this year include: Chicago indie rock band Dehd, Emily Kempf, Eric McGrady and Jason Balla, Chicagoans of the Year for Music, pop/rock; Drummer/producer/composer Makaya McCraven, Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz; Chicagoans of the Year for books, library workers of Illinois, represented by Josephine Tucci, director of Lincolnwood public library, Julie Milavec, director of the Downers Grove public library, John Charastka of the library advocacy group EveryLibrary, Chris Brown, commissioner of the Chicago Public Library and Elizabeth Lynch, an Addison librarian; Michael McStraw, executive director of Giordano Dance Chicago, Chicagoan of the Year for Dance; Rebecca Fons, programming head of the Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicagoan of the Year in film; and stage director Ron OJ Parson, Chicagoan of the Year for Theater.
The respected publication is available online at the Chicago Tribune's website (paywall) and will be available in print at newsstands across the city.
Blake-Anthony Johnson
Noted as a “business heavyweight” by Crain’s Chicago Business, arts executive Blake-Anthony Johnson has, throughout his career, extended the artistic, commercial, and technological boundaries of what an orchestra can be in the 21st century through creative leadership, commitment to innovation, and progressive vision. With a focus on community-centric, multi-disciplinary, and educational initiatives that enable cultural institutions to provide equitable access and public service to all, Johnson has been universally recognized and applauded for his civic engagement & transformational leadership. He is the first African American executive to guide a nationally renowned orchestra and serves on numerous boards and panels throughout the country by invitation. Since May 2020 Johnson has served as Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta, an acclaimed cultural leader in the field and powerful champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He was appointed President & CEO in April 2022.
An active member of numerous organizational boards and committees, Johnson serves on the City of Chicago’s DCASE Cultural Advisory Council, on the Cultural Arts Council for the City of Chicago, The Sir Georg Solti Foundation U.S., the League of American Orchestras’ EDI Orchestra Management Committee, on the Steering Committee of Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, and is a member of the League of American Orchestras’ EDI Orchestra Management Committee. Johnson also serves as a Trustee and Advisory Board Member for several organizations across the country that focus on the arts, eliminating intergenerational poverty, criminal justice reform, and healthcare, including DCASE Cultural Grant Review Panelist & Cultural Advisory Council; The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage; Chicago Live Artistic Advisory Committee (Navy Pier); Vanderbilt University’s Dean Advisory Circle for the Blair School of Music; AIRIE: National Advisory Committee; and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music in partnership with the San Francisco Symphony Emerging Black Composers Project Evaluation Committee. A champion of arts education, Mr. Johnson is a Voting Recording Academy Member and also a member of the Faculty at Roosevelt University’s Chicago Conservatory of Performing Arts.
In addition to being named Chicago Tribune’s 2022 Chicagoan of the Year in Classical Music, Johnson was recently named a 2022 Top 30 Professionals of the Year by MusicalAmerica.com, and a member of Crain’s Chicago Business magazine’s Class of 2022 40 Under 40.
Johnson is an accomplished musician, and a former professional cellist and protégé of Michael Tilson Thomas at New World Symphony. The recipient of the 2022 Chicago Community Trust Daniel Burnham Fellowship, his former posts include two terms on the National Endowment for the Arts Music Panel.
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