President and CEO, Levine Music

Levine Music invites applications and nominations for the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, available July, 2021.  Peter Jablow, who has led the organization since 2003, has announced that he will step down at the end of June, 2021.  

Levine Music

www.levinemusic.org

Levine Music (originally the Levine School of Music) has been the preeminent center for music education in the Washington, DC, metropolitan region for more than 40 years.  Founded in memory of Washington attorney and amateur musician Selma M. Levine, Levine Music provides a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.  Levine Music’s distinguished faculty offers a broad and well-rounded curriculum that provides a strong musical foundation for students of all ages, abilities, and interests.  Levine Music strives to make music education available to everyone who wants to study and enjoy music, regardless of age, ability, or financial means, and is grounded in the foundational pillars of education, performance, and community.

Levine Music is a not-for-profit organization governed by a 40-member Board of Trustees.  Levine employs 180 faculty members, mostly part-time, who provide individual and group instruction in a variety genres, instruments, and concentrations, including: classical, jazz, rock, music theatre, voice, piano, woodwinds, brass, strings, guitar, percussion, composition, chamber music, early childhood music, music theory, music therapy, and Suzuki methods.  Levine Music has an administrative staff of 36; the annual operating budget is $10 million.

Levine’s main campus and permanent home is Sallie Mae Hall, a 35,000 square-foot facility in Northwest DC with 30 teaching studios, a library, a 150-seat flexible performance space; and a recording center.  Levine also has campuses in Southeast Washington; Kensington, Maryland; Silver Spring, Maryland; and Arlington, Virginia.  Levine is also evaluating expanding its presence with potential new campuses in Northern Virginia.

The Opportunity

The next President and CEO of Levine Music will take the helm of the vibrant organization that is a recognized leader in music education for children and adults throughout the Washington metropolitan area.  The President and CEO will provide guidance, support, coordination, and impetus to the work of a dedicated, energized, and Board, faculty, and staff.  Building on the successful achievement of the organization’s most recent strategic plan, the next President and CEO will have the opportunity to lead stakeholders in designing a framework to take Levine Music well into the next decade.  

Levine Music is well-positioned for growth in developing its current campuses, building partnerships and strategic alliances within the community, and establishing additional venues to meet the long-term needs and demand for programs and services.  The next President and CEO will have the opportunity to develop Levine Music’s capacity to generate increased financial support through fund raising, student enrollment, and new revenue opportunities. 

The President and CEO will also have the opportunity to explore the expanded use of technology both in the delivery of music education to the broadest possible community and in all aspects of Levine Music’s administrative work.  In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Levine Music has moved to online instruction for both classes and performances.   The next CEO will be able to develop Levine’s virtual campus beyond the pandemic to offer more flexibility for faculty and students, to provide wider geographic reach, and to achieve greater impact in all aspects of Levine Music’s work.

The Position

The President and CEO provides leadership and vision that enable Levine Music to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals for excellence in music education and community engagement, sound management, and financial sustainability.  The President and CEO is responsible and accountable for all aspects of Levine’s administration and operations, including: planning; financial management; fundraising; marketing and public relations; site development and facilities management; community programs and partnerships; and oversight of programs, curriculum, faculty, and staff.   The President and CEO fosters an environment that allows Levine Music to continue to attract and retain the finest faculty and staff.

The President and CEO leads Levine Music’s on-going strategic planning, ensuring the effective development and utilization of the financial and human resources needed to accomplish the organization’s mission.  The President and CEO gives leadership and guidance to Levine’s senior management team.  S/he oversees the development of the annual budget and assures that enrollment, income, and expense goals are achieved.  With the Vice President of Music Education and the Faculty Council, s/he oversees the recruitment and selection of faculty and the evaluation of faculty, programs, and curriculum.  

The President and CEO articulates the vision, mission, and goals of Levine Music to internal and external audiences. S/he takes a leadership role in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of new and existing donors as well as fundraising campaigns for operations, endowment, facilities and capital improvements, and student financial aid.  S/he serves as chief spokesperson for the Levine Music and advocate for the importance and value of music education throughout the community.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with the ability to embrace and articulate the vision, mission, and goals of Levine Music with clarity and conviction.  The successful candidate will have a passionate belief in the value and importance of music education and the role community music schools play in the cultural life of the country.  While not required, experience in education and/or educational administration will be considered an asset. The demonstrated ability to work effectively with creative people is essential.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with the vision and imagination to chart future directions, recognize opportunities, forge consensus, and harness the energies of diverse constituencies to accomplish common goals.  S/he will be a good listener with superb interpersonal skills.  S/he will encourage participation of various constituents in planning and decision-making in an atmosphere of transparency and mutual respect.

The successful candidate will be knowledgeable about facilities and project management. The ideal candidate will bring successful experience working with local governments, developers, and community leaders to create alliances that achieve shared goals.

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic fundraiser with the proven ability to achieve and exceed organizational goals for philanthropic support.  S/he will have experience in all aspects of fundraising, including annual giving, special events, planned giving, capital campaigns, and endowment campaigns.  S/he will be able to speak and write persuasively to diverse internal and external audiences.  S/he will be willing to devote substantial time and effort to fundraising.  

The successful candidate will be an experienced manager with the demonstrated ability to set expectations and assure both financial and operational accountability throughout the organization.  S/he will be able to lead staff in an environment that fosters creativity, a commitment to excellence, and teamwork.  S/he will be able to innovate, manage change, move an agenda forward, and resolve conflict.

The successful candidate will have an engaging public personality and presence, high energy, and excellent listening skills. Levine is a diverse organization and it is vital that its leader embrace principles of diversity and inclusion.  S/he will have the ability to relate and interact effectively with stakeholders who represent every aspect of diversity in age, education, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.  The successful candidate will be kind, creative, curious, and flexible.  S/he will have at least ten years’ senior executive experience and will possess common sense, sound judgment, and good humor in abundance.  The successful candidate will be willing and able to maintain a schedule that includes frequent evening and weekend events. 

Compensation

Compensation, including benefits, is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications

Levine Music is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of the organization.  Levine Music seeks to develop a diverse candidate pool and welcomes nominations and applications from all qualified candidates under any category protected by law.

Please send a cover letter outlining interest and qualifications with resume, salary requirements, and contact information for at least three references.  Electronic submissions are preferred.  All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be called without the candidate’s knowledge and agreement. 

Please send materials to:

Levine Music – CEO

c/o Catherine French Group

2500 Q Street NW, Suite 623

Washington, DC  20007

applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com

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