Robert McGrath Appointed President and CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Credit: Claudia Hershner

CINCINNATI, OH (January 16, 2025)—The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Board of Directors announced today that Robert McGrath has been appointed as the new President and CEO of the CSO, effective February 17, 2025. McGrath succeeds Jonathan Martin, who announced his retirement at the end of November 2024.  

A 27-year veteran of the orchestra field, including nine years as Vice President and General Manager and four years as Chief Operating Officer at the CSO, McGrath will take the helm of one of the most progressive major orchestras in America. He will simultaneously lead as President and CEO of the CSO; President of the CSO’s subsidiary, Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI); and President of CSO’s partner organization, the Cincinnati May Festival. 

“Over the course of his 13-year tenure with the CSO, he has demonstrated exceptional vision, steady pragmatism and tremendous skill. At a time when the nation’s leading orchestras are in fierce competition to attract top talent, the CSO is fortunate to have a proven leader in Robert as our first choice,” said CSO Board Chair Dianne Rosenberg. “His appointment ensures vital leadership as we continue to grow and evolve. In Robert’s capable hands, the CSO is poised for even greater community impact and success in the years ahead.” 

McGrath steps in as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra prepares for the inaugural season of its new Music Director Cristian Macelaru in Fall 2025 and will play a key role in ushering in a new era of music-making, education and service to the Cincinnati community in pursuit of the CSO’s vision to be the most relevant orchestra in America. 

“Fostering a culture of artistic growth while maintaining a focus on the community the orchestra serves is a monumental task. The administration of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under Jonathan Martin has achieved both, while also strongly setting the institution on a path of financial stability and social relevance,” said Macelaru. “In the appointment of Robert McGrath to continue this incredible work, I know the right quality of expertise is ensured. Robert has been instrumental in the historic achievements of the Orchestra already, on and off the stage. His knowledge of every aspect of the work done at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra provides invaluable insights which will help us write the next chapter. I am confident, optimistic and truly excited in all that Robert will bring in his new role.” 

McGrath will also oversee the Cincinnati May Festival as it enters its second year under a new artistic leadership model, with Grammy Award-winning soprano Renée Fleming as Festival Director for 2025, and first in a strategic alliance with the Cincinnati Boychoir. Additionally, McGrath will help advance the CSO and MEMI’s Riverbend 2.0 project, the development of a new state-of-the art music and entertainment campus that modernizes the performer and audience experience and is estimated to have an annual economic impact of $82 million once completed and operational.  

No stranger to change, Robert McGrath has been a steady force in the CSO’s business continuity and resilience during his tenure. He served as key personnel in facilitating a $143 million renovation of Music Hall as well as the master transition plan during the building’s 17-month construction period. He served on search committees for new artistic leadership, resulting in the successful hires of Music Directors Louis Langrée in 2013 and Cristian M?celaru in 2024. He also led productive labor relations with the musicians and Local-1 of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), culminating in two industry-leading collective bargaining agreements in 2021 and 2024. 

Notably, McGrath navigated the CSO through the complexities of the Covid-19 pandemic and led the acceleration of strategic plans for digital content and innovation. He spearheaded a special task force that monitored Covid-19 developments and ensured the swift implementation of safety protocols in response to rapidly evolving health guidelines. He also spearheaded the American orchestra industry’s first socially distanced livestream and launched the Orchestra's acclaimed Live from Music Hall digital concert series, earning global recognition and establishing the CSO as a leader in digital innovation. Since 2020, the CSO has produced over 100 programs for online and broadcast, reaching more than four million viewers worldwide. 

“Throughout Robert’s exemplary tenure at the CSO, his thoughtful and pragmatic leadership has profoundly shaped the organization’s culture,” said CSO Contrabassoon and Chair of the Players Committee Jennifer Monroe. “His deep respect for the musicians has fostered trust and strengthened the long-standing collaboration between management and the Orchestra. I have every confidence that Robert is the ideal leader to continue guiding the CSO on its upward path.” 

McGrath is currently leading the CSO senior management team in the implementation of the Orchestra’s strategic plan, which establish concert innovation, learning and DEI as core focus areas. Accomplishments include the creation of CSO Proof, an incubator for pioneering new concert formats, as well as new concert pilots informed by next-gen audience research. He has also made significant strides in advancing programming and support for populations historically underrepresented in American orchestras, shaping the Orchestra’s learning strategic plan to emphasize equitable access to orchestral music. Under McGrath’s leadership, the Nouveau program, designed to nurture student musicians from backgrounds underrepresented in orchestral music, has expanded and the development of a succession program to the CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship, which McGrath led the establishment of in 2015, is underway. 

“After more than a decade with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival, stepping into this role at such a pivotal moment is deeply meaningful to me,” said McGrath. “With the arrival of CSO’s visionary new Music Director Cristian Macelaru, new leadership at the May Festival and plans underway for a state-of-the-art venue for live music here in the region, I’m excited to lead the organization and further strengthen our commitment to community relevance. I look forward to working alongside Cristian, our talented musicians and staff, and our dynamic board members as we continue to push artistic boundaries, inspire new generations of audiences, and build a vibrant cultural legacy for years to come.” 

Robert McGrath is a graduate of the New England Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music in bassoon performance, an alumnus of the League of American Orchestras’ Management Fellowship Program and a recent winner of Cincinnati Business Courier’s prestigious C-Suite Award. Prior to joining the CSO as Vice President and General Manager in 2011, he held senior positions with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra and Chicago’s Music of the Baroque; he began his career in fundraising with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. ?

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

With a legacy dating back 130 years, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is considered one of America’s finest and most versatile ensembles. In the 2025-26 season, Cristian Macelaru joins the Orchestra as its 14th Music Director, after serving as Music Director Designate in the 2024-25 season. The Orchestra also performs as the Cincinnati Pops, founded by Erich Kunzel in 1977 and currently led by John Morris Russell with Damon Gupton serving as Principal Guest Conductor. The CSO further elevates the city’s vibrant arts scene by serving as the official orchestra for the Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Opera and Cincinnati Ballet. 

Since its inception in 1895, the CSO has dedicated itself to seeking and sharing inspiration with the Greater Cincinnati community through the transformative power of music. With a vibrant and dedicated history, the CSO has commissioned more than 200 new works and presented more than 300 world or U.S. premieres, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of musical innovation. The CSO’s commissioning legacy includes two Fanfare Projects, the first during World War II and the second during the Covid-19 pandemic, that sought to inspire, uplift and provide meaning during pivotal moments in our nation’s shared history through the universal language of music. In addition to its commissioning efforts, the CSO and Pops can be heard around the world through more than 300 commercial recordings, including those on the Orchestra’s own label, Fanfare Cincinnati.  

The CSO is committed to its vision to be the most relevant orchestra in America, realized through a focus on serving the entire community and continually innovating ways in which the Orchestra presents music. Recent examples include One City/One Symphony, fostering city-wide discussions through music; Lumenocity®, blending music and visual art with Music Hall’s illuminated façade; Look Around, uniting Cincinnati’s arts community at Washington Park; and CSO Proof, the Orchestra’s flagship program for innovative concert experiences and formats. 

The CSO is also dedicated to enriching and expanding access to music education through the power of culturally inclusive music to nurture and inspire lifelong learning. Focusing on Learning, Playing and Developing, the Orchestra brings music education to the Greater Cincinnati community through youth orchestras, Musicians in Schools, the CSO Brass Institute and one of the United States’ longest-running Young People’s Concerts series, launched over 100 years ago. 

A leader in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the CSO was among the first American orchestras to establish and endow a Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer role, integrating best DEI practices into all aspects of the organization. In 2007, the CSO created the Nouveau program, which has supported increased participation in classical music, providing equitable opportunities for music study and performance for more than 80 African American and Latine student musicians annually. The CSO serves as an incubator and partner to Equity Arc, a consortium addressing racial equity in classical music by uniting orchestras, musicians and educators to support and strengthen the development of classical instrumentalists of color throughout all stages of their pre-careers.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra gratefully acknowledges annual support from:

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