Job Description

President and Chief Executive Officer, Handel and Haydn Society

Job Location : Hybrid/Other; On Site/In Person

Job Type : Full Time

Date Posted : January 14, 2026

Network(s) : Other

DESCRIPTION

Organization

Handel and Haydn Society (H+H) is the oldest continuously operating performing arts organization in the United States. Founded in 1815 in Boston, H+H has remained a cultural leader for more than two centuries, advancing a mission and vision to inspire, elevate, and connect through transformative performances of Baroque and Classical music, and to bring the joy and rigor of this repertoire to audiences across Greater Boston and beyond. It remains steadfast in its commitments to quality, inclusivity, and impact that define H+H as a treasured cultural institution. Its Grammywinning orchestra and chorus are celebrated for performances of exceptional freshness, vitality, and historically informed style. The H+H vision affirms a commitment to artistic excellence, financial stability, expanded audience engagement, impactful learning programs, and longterm organizational sustainability as reflected in its updated 20232028 Strategic Plan.

From its earliest years, H+H has shaped Americas musical landscape. It introduced U.S. audiences to enduring masterworks, including Handels Messiah (1818), Haydns Creation (1819), Verdis Requiem (1878), and Bachs St. Matthew Passion (1879). Since its founding, H+H has presented more than 2,700 performances to over 2.8 million people. Today, the orchestra and chorus appear in Bostons most iconic venues, presenting the majority of its concerts at Symphony Hall, a landmark space with a seating capacity of 2,625, and at New England Conservatorys Jordan Hall, an intimate 1,051seat auditorium renowned for its acoustics. H+H also regularly appears at Harvard Universitys Sanders Theatre, a historic 1,000seat venue in Cambridge. Beyond Boston, H+H has expanded its reach with performances in 2025 at ArtisNaples and the Kravitz Center for the Performing Arts in Palm Beach, in addition to a Carnegie Hall debut in 2026.

Artistic vision, quality, and impact are paramount at H+H. It named acclaimed conductor, cellist, and keyboardist Jonathan Cohen as its 15th Artistic Director, beginning in the 20232024 season. Cohen continues to build upon the orchestras and choruss reputation of delivering uniquely rewarding, engaging, and emotionally moving concert experiences. As Founder and Artistic Director of the UKbased early music ensemble Arcangelo, he is a twotime Gramophone Award winner and Grammy Award nominee. In addition, Cohen is Music Director of Qubecs Les Violons du Roy, Artistic Director of the Tetbury Festival in the UK, and Artistic Partner of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. A muchindemand guest conductor, Cohen has appeared on both sides of the Atlantic with numerous ensembles, including the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Lige, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, New York Philharmonic, and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, as well as the Glyndebourne Festival numerous times since 2010.>

H+Hs programming blends Baroque and Classical repertoire with innovative premieres and inventive thematic pairings, performed with H+Hs renown historical insight. Its 210th season opened with Handels Saul, followed by Beethovens Symphony No. 7, and Handels Messiah. It performed its 12th annual Emancipation Proclamation Concert, a celebration of liberty and freedom, in partnership with the Museum of African American History. The season will conclude with works by Mozart and Haydn, Handels Water Music, and finally a glorious vocal program highlighting the music of Bach, Brahms, and Gesualdo. H+Hs impact extends deep into the community through the Karen S. and George D. Levy Education Program, which supports seven youth choirs for students in grades two to 12 and distributes thousands of free tickets each year to students and community groups, ensuring broad access to worldclass musical experiences.

The President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) oversees 24 fulltime employees and reports to a 33member Board of Governors led by Chair Judith Verhave and consults with the 30member Board of Advisors, led by CoChairs Carrie L.T. Hammond and Nick Dials. H+H engages its instrumentalists under a collective bargaining agreement with the Boston Musicians Association of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), which extends through June 30, 2026. Its singers are entering into negotiations for their first collective bargaining agreement under the auspices of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).

For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, H+H anticipates total revenues of $7.72 million, including $4.25 million in contributions and grants, $1.69 million from program services, $1.24 million from investment income, and approximately $540,000 from other sources. H+H launched a major capital campaign at the start of the 2021 fiscal year that exceeded its goal in raising roughly $54 million, including $21 million for its annual fund, $20.6 million in endowment, and $9.9 million in planned gifts, highlighting that its 1815 Society serves one of its most important legacy giving opportunities.

Position Summary

The CEO will be responsible for leading a multifaceted arts organization and must have strong financial acumen with a passion for fundraising and development. They must be a creative, dynamic, and visionary leader who is collaborative, diplomatic, and inspires confidence. Balancing the budget while focusing on growth potential will be critical. The capacity to collaborate with members of the Board, artistic leadership, and senior staff to conceive, design, and execute a coherent organizational strategy which will enable H+H to achieve its strategic ambitions is essential. Key elements of the role will also include financial management, fundraising, strategic planning, sales and marketing, human resources management, and operations. The CEO will implement and support the strategic direction of H+H, focusing on financial resiliency, donor and audience engagement, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, and other key initiatives.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Vision, Leadership, and Planning

• Collaborate with the Board to develop and implement policies that support a fiscally responsible and artistically vibrant strategic direction.
• Invigorate a galvanizing vision that unifies H+H around an impactful mission and strengthens its relevance to local, regional, and national communities.
• Increase attendance and broaden audience diversity, engagement, philanthropic support, and visibility to expand the critical acclaim of H+H artistic leadership and programs.
• Participate in the refresh and implementation of an organizationwide strategic plan, working closely with the Strategic Planning Committee and Board.

Revenue Generation

• Lead major gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, as well as continued annual fund, capital campaign, and planned giving initiatives.
• Drive the growth of earned and contributed revenues, including ticket sales, touring, and audience engagement, as well as extend support for deeper education program participation.
• Advocate as H+Hs primary public representative and media spokesperson, strengthening the organizations visibility and relationships throughout Boston and nationally while highlighting the importance of classical music and arts education fields.

Artistic Partnerships and External Relations

• Partner with the Artistic Director to elevate H+Hs artistic profile.
• Guide collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the AFM and AGMA in supporting strong partnerships with musicians and artistic personnel.

Fiscal Resiliency, Team Vibrancy, and Technological Advancement

• Develop achievable short and longterm operating plans and budgets that ensure artistic excellence, crossdepartmental collaboration, and high production standards.
• Explore, embrace, and implement appropriate technological advances to promote effective audience development, community engagement, brand awareness, and social visibility.
• Ensure that the organization is led in a fiscally responsible and operationally rigorous manner in collaboration with the Board, Artistic Director, and staff.
• Engage, manage, inspire, and mentor a dynamic senior leadership team and ensure that H+H staff are afforded opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Embrace technological advances for internal operations and business management.

Traits and Characteristics

• The CEO must have a dynamic leadership style with strong fiscal fluency, emotional intelligence, and the capacity to collaborate with artistic leadership, members of the Board, and staff to enable H+H to achieve its strategic and artistic goals.
• The CEO will enjoy and be comfortable in interacting with people within and outside of the organization.
• A leader who honors the legacy of a historically important organization, the CEO will be an innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial leader who embodies a respectful approach and is an excellent motivator.
• The CEO must also support evolving technological, financial, human capital, and organizational practices.

Other key competencies

• Personal & Professional Leadership The capacity to take ownership for decisions and actions while organizing and influencing people to believe in and support the organizations mission, vision, values, and relevance.
• Problem Solving and Planning & Organizing The ability to de]]>

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