Bravo! Vail Music Festival Seeks Visionary New Artistic Director

Applications accepted through October 15

Vail, CO (Oct. 2, 2025) — Bravo! Vail Music Festival, one of the top 10 classical music festivals in the country, has opened applications for its new Artistic Director, a visionary leader who will guide the artistic direction of the organization and take it to its next chapter. Applications will be accepted through October 15, 2025.

The Artistic Director will be responsible for creating dynamic, varied, and vibrant programs at the highest quality to promote and elevate Bravo! Vail’s mission, vision, and values. Only the fourth Artistic Director in Bravo! Vail’s history, this individual will have the unique opportunity to take the Festival to new heights, in terms of artistic achievement and international renown.

To download the job description as a PDF, please click here. 

Artistic Director: Primary Responsibilities

• Artistic planning and programming:
• Strategically guide and oversee the artistic direction of Bravo! Vail Music Festival.
• With support from the Artistic Administrator, identify, select, and engage all performing artists for the Festival’s chamber music concerts, commissioning projects, soirées, education and community engagement programs, donor events, master classes, and more.
• Work in close partnership with resident orchestras to collaboratively plan programs for each orchestra’s residency.
• Maintain strong, positive working relationships with partner orchestras, individual artists, and ensembles.
• Identify special projects to advance the artistic profile of Bravo! Vail.
• Performance:
• Participate in the Bravo! Vail Music Festival as the Artistic Director, concert host, and performing artist as programmed.
• Donor relations:
• Assist the President and CEO, Development staff, and Board of Trustees with identifying, cultivating, and soliciting donors to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Establish relationships with individual donors, families, and foundations.
• Media and public relations:
• Represent Bravo! Vail publicly and serve as a passionate advocate for the organization.
• Work with Bravo! Vail’s marketing and PR teams to engage in public relations opportunities and give interviews on a year-round basis to local, regional, national, and international media.
• Education and engagement:
• Work in close collaboration with the Director of Education & Engagement to support the growth of Bravo! Vail’s Education & Engagement programs.
• Festival responsibilities:
• Serve as a visible ambassador of Bravo! Vail, remaining present in the community throughout the Festival season.
• Actively engage with guest artists, ensembles, and partner organizations.
• Welcome audiences and cultivate donor relationships.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Alignment with Bravo! Vail’s mission, vision and values.
• Ability to build and nurture relationships across organizations.
• Ability to work within budgetary parameters to achieve artistic goals.
• Ability to coordinate programming efforts with partner orchestras, musicians and ensembles to ensure alignment with artistic goals and organizational objectives.
• Innovative and passionate commitment to artistic excellence.
• Understanding and respect for the history of Bravo! Vail and the unique nature of its location, community and audience.
• Ability to foster a culture of collaboration and joy among musicians, board, staff, volunteers, and affiliates.

Reporting and Working Relationships

The Artistic Director is an independent contractor who collaborates closely with the President and CEO, Artistic Administrator, and Bravo! Vail staff.

The Artistic Director is a member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the President and CEO and maintaining a close relationship with the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Effective communication and partnership between the Artistic Director and President and CEO are essential to the success of this role.

Board of Trustees
Bravo! Vail Music Festival is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of up to 40 voting members. Numerous standing committees work to progress the organization’s strategic initiatives, including: Community Relations, Education and Engagement, Executive, Finance, Governance, Independent Audit, Investment and Nominating. An Advisory Council of non-voting members supplements and amplifies the work of the Board of Trustees.

Vision, Mission and Values

• Vision: Enriching lives through the joy and power of music.
• Mission: Bravo! Vail presents extraordinary music, accessible to all. We provide extensive music education throughout our community, connect musicians and listeners, and celebrate the evolving world of classical music. 
• Values: 

Artistic passion and dedication to quality.
Making music education accessible.
Collaboration and connection based in integrity and respect.
Ensuring the success and legacy of our Festival.

Application Instructions

• All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Applications will be accepted through October 15, 2025.
• To nominate a candidate or apply for this position, please contact: hploughman@bravovail.org
• To read more, please click here.
• To download the job description as a PDF, please click here.
• Visit bravovail.org

About Bravo! Vail Music Festival
Consistently cited as one of the top 10 classical music festivals in the country, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival brings world-renowned musicians to picturesque venues throughout the Vail and Eagle River Valley region for six weeks, drawing music lovers from around the world. The only festival in North America to host four of the world’s finest orchestras in a single season, Bravo! Vail celebrates its 39th season from June 25-August 6, 2026, with approximately 80 concerts—more than half of which are presented for free. Beyond its summer programming, Bravo! Vail serves the community by providing year-round, low-cost music education through Music Makers Haciendo Música, a piano, violin, cello, guitar, and ensemble instruction program to help develop new generations of musicians and music lovers. Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott has led the Festival since 2011 and will conclude her tenure in the 2026 season. "[Bravo! Vail] is the most high-profile — and high altitude — mountain music festival in America." - The Times (UK)

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Media Contacts:

Patricia Price, Managing Director
8VA Music Consultancy
patricia@8vamusicconsultancy.com 

Hannah Ploughman, Executive Assistant
Bravo! Vail Music Festival
hploughman@bravovail.org