MA Top 30 Professional: Eric J. Rubio

Director of Finance and Administration
The Washington Chorus

In fourth grade, Eric Rubio first picked up the trombone in a suburban Chicago band program. Since then, he says he’s “never looked back.” Now the director of finance and administration at The Washington Chorus, Rubio, 36, started his career in education, teaching in schools as well as running his own trombone studio. He was first bitten by the arts admin bug as an undergraduate at Wheaton (IL) College Conservatory of Music, where he worked as a stage manager. He would return to his alma mater two years later as an assistant manager of the conservatory’s presenting series, hosting such artists as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), Canadian Brass, and pianist Emanuel Ax. While living in the Chicago area, Rubio also served on the executive and nominating committees of the CSO Overture Council, the orchestra’s young professionals network.

Rubio’s first full-time job in administration was with Seraphic Fire, as finance and operations manager. But just a year after relocating to Miami for the role, the pandemic struck.

“That derailed things for the performing arts world in general, and especially choral arts,” he says, with a dark chuckle. Little did Rubio know that in just over a year, he would find himself back in the choral world again, taking an equivalent role at the prestigious Washington Chorus in D.C. He has also joined the Sphinx LEAD program as a member of its sixth and current cohort.

“The best part, honestly, is the cohort. We have a private group chat; we’re always helping each other untangle different situations or challenges we’re facing. It’s a really special experience,” he says.

Outside of his work for The Washington Chorus, he serves on the board of Embracing Arlington Arts, a “hyper-local arts advocacy organization” in his current hometown of Arlington, VA.