Richard Lonsdorf appointed Executive Director of New Century Chamber Orchestra

San Francisco, CA – January 19, 2021 – Richard Lonsdorf has been appointed Executive Director of New Century Chamber Orchestra effective immediately, it was announced today by Board President Mark Salkind. Mr. Lonsdorf, who has served as Interim Executive Director since August 1, 2020, will support Music Director Daniel Hope in establishing the ensemble’s ongoing artistic vision, oversee strategic planning and operations, drive major donor fundraising and earned revenue goals, and collaborate with the Board of Directors to ensure the long-term fiscal health of the organization. Mr. Lonsdorf succeeds Philip Wilder who stepped down from his position July 31, 2020 to become the President and General Director of Chanticleer.
 
“Over the past few months, Richard Lonsdorf has led New Century with exceptional assuredness and a steady hand during one of the most challenging moments for the entire performing arts industry. His innovative approach and willingness to seek out opportunity in these moments is exactly what is needed not only to chart a course through the pandemic but to flourish,” said Board President Mark Salkind. “Making this addition permanent was a unanimous decision and I would like to personally thank the search committee for their tireless effort in finding the perfect candidate for the position.”
 
“I am delighted that Richard Lonsdorf has been chosen as our next Executive Director,” stated Daniel Hope. “His energy and passion throughout our recent San Francisco filming of Hope@Home – Next Generation was pivotal to its success and I am looking forward to continuing our work together as we explore more creative ways to bring the highest possible level of music-making to our audiences.”
 
“It was such a thrill working with Daniel Hope and our New Century musicians to produce the Hope@Home - Next Generation episodes for audiences all over the world,” said Executive Director Richard Lonsdorf. “After experiencing their uniquely collaborative approach and collegiality firsthand, I am excited to help lead this organization out of the pandemic and into a renewed period of dynamic music-making.”
 
As Interim Executive Director of New Century Chamber Orchestra, Mr. Lonsdorf oversaw the launch of six delayed-live episodes of Daniel Hope’s internationally acclaimed television series Hope@Home – Next Generation. Filmed in San Francisco, each half-hour episode was streamed to an international audience of over 400,000 viewers and comprised of solo and chamber music featuring Daniel Hope, musicians of the orchestra and Bay Area guest artists pianist Garrick Ohlsson, composer Jake Heggie and percussionist Zakir Hussain. Building on this success, Mr. Lonsdorf will expand New Century’s virtual offerings with a series of musical filming projects to be announced soon.
 
A graduate of Harvard University and Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, Richard Lonsdorf has more than a decade of experience serving on the artistic planning teams of some of the nation’s most renowned orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Among the many innovative orchestra projects that he has brought to life include the San Francisco Symphony’s groundbreaking SoundBox series as well as its popular Film Series; the New York Philharmonic’s new music showcase CONTACT! and performances of Stockhausen’s Gruppen for three orchestras at the Park Avenue Amory for the Philharmonic 360 project; and several programs for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Centennial Season including a capstone nighttime light show featuring 300 Intel Shooting Star drones.


ABOUT RICHARD LONSDORF
With over a decade of experience bringing complex and creative orchestral projects to life, Richard Lonsdorf has held positions in the artistic planning departments of the San Francisco Symphony, and both the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics.  While at the SF Symphony, he shepherded the immersive, multimedia SoundBox series through its widely acclaimed inaugural seasons. He also adapted the orchestra’s non-subscription programming to embrace shifting demographics in the Bay Area, launching new projects such as the Film Series, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and other interdisciplinary collaborations.
 
At the New York Philharmonic, Lonsdorf led contemporary music initiatives such as the CONTACT! new music showcase, culminating in performances of Stockhausen’s Gruppen for three orchestras at the Park Avenue Amory for the Philharmonic 360 project. He also worked closely with Live from Lincoln Center on special event telecasts including an Emmy-nominated production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel. More recently at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he brought several programs for the LA Phil’s Centennial Season to life at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, including a capstone nighttime light show featuring 300 Intel Shooting Star drones.
 
Lonsdorf spent the early part of his career in artist management, as an assistant at Columbia Artists Management, Inc. (CAMI) working with conductors and solo instrumentalists. He also spent a year working on the management team for Shakira, during her 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign for the mega-hit “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”
 
In 2018, he earned a management degree through the Sloan Fellowship (MSx Program) at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, with a focus on design thinking through the Hasso Plattner Institute for Design (d.school). He holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and German from Harvard University.  He pursued piano, French horn, and musical theater throughout his younger years in Verona, Wisconsin but decided his talents are better deployed behind the scenes. He is excited to resume life as a San Francisco resident and has already purchased several light sweaters.
 
ABOUT NEW CENTURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
One of only a handful of conductorless chamber ensembles in the world, New Century Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1992 and includes 19 string players from the San Francisco Bay Area as well throughout the United States. Musical decisions are made collaboratively, resulting in an enhanced level of commitment from the musicians and concerts of remarkable precision, passion, and power. The internationally acclaimed British violinist and Deutsche Grammophon recording artist Daniel Hope has been the ensemble’s Music Director since 2018. Previous music directors of the ensemble include Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (2008-2017), Krista Bennion Feeney (1999-2006) and Stuart Canin (1992-1999).
 
Beyond regular season concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area, New Century has toured nationally including 2011 performances in the Midwest, East Coast, and Southern California and a 2013 eight-state national tour. In June 2019, the orchestra embarked on its first European Tour, the largest and most ambitious artistic undertaking in the organization’s history, with appearances across Germany and Poland including the acclaimed Leonard Bernstein-founded Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and Philharmonie Essen. Critically acclaimed recordings include From A to Z: 21st Century Concertos (May 2014), LIVE: Barber, Strauss, Mahler (November 2010) and Together (August 2009).
 
PHOTO CREDITS
Richard Lonsdorf / Kiefer Hickman

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