Chief Development Officer

The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Young Concert Artists in the search for a Chief Development Officer.

Reporting to the President, the Chief Development Officer will lead and grow YCA's fundraising activities including annual fund, special events, endowment, capital campaign, and legacy giving. The Chief Development Officer will partner with the President, Board of Directors, and YCA's vast network of talent and dedicated supporters to expand and deepen YCA's philanthropic footprint nationally. The Chief Development Officer will share YCA's commitment to access, support, and inclusion which will be evidenced through fundraising, board recruitment, and staffing efforts.

Since its founding in 1961, Young Concert Artists has helped young musicians find their way onto the world’s concert stages. Young Concert Artists has presented nearly 300 artist debut concerts, has commissioned more than 30 compositions from YCA composers, and has facilitated thousands of residencies through the Annaliese Soros Educational Residency Program. As it celebrates 60 years of innovative career-building and artistic nurturing during the 2020-21 season, it shines the spotlight on the next generation of extraordinary young musicians. YCA began in an era when young artists had nowhere to turn for guidance in a professional capacity. Having championed soloists, ensembles, and composers; YCA has now helped begin nearly 300 careers.

Each year through a rigorous audition process, Young Concert Artists chooses a new group of stunning young musicians to add to its roster with the promise of debuts in both New York City and Washington, DC followed by at least three years of career management. This includes providing performance opportunities, promotional and marketing services, travel arrangements, educational residency experience, and extensive professional development. These young people are the future of classical music and YCA invests in their careers so they may spend a lifetime bringing the gift of music to audiences around the world.

YCA supports a diverse roster of young artists of great musical talent, and celebrates groundbreaking diverse young artists who began their careers at YCA including Sanford Allen, Marcus Thompson, Jeanine di Bique, and Julia Bullock. Last year three artists of color on YCA’s roster organized an important panel discussion called “Learning to Listen: A Roundtable Discussion on the nuances of the Black experience in classical music and beyond.” YCA helped promote the event which has received more than 100,000 views. That commitment continues in the 2020-2021 season as YCA commissioned five diverse composers to write pieces for its own artists to premiere; established a Partnership with the Harmony Program; and developed a wide-ranging series of unique musical residencies in underserved schools in greater New York City. YCA will continue to expand such opportunities and to promote and create diversity within the entire organization.

A bachelor’s degree is required for this position as is at least seven years of effective leadership and successful fundraising experience at an organization of similar size and scope or larger, preferably in the areas of music, performance, and cultural arts. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Young Concert Artists and express a commitment to discovering and launching the careers of extraordinary young musicians from all over the world.