Jean Davidson Email & Phone Number

Jean Davidson became Executive Director of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center on April 1, 2023. Previously, she served as president & CEO of the Los Angeles Master Chorale from 2015 to 2023, overseeing a period of significant growth with the organization's budget expanding by over 50%. Under her leadership, the Chorale achieved new heights in revenue and launched innovative international touring initiatives. Davidson also spearheaded a successful re-branding effort in 2016, reinforcing core values while fostering artistic innovation and audience engagement.Before her tenure at the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Davidson held pivotal arts leadership roles. As founding chief executive of New York Live Arts, she orchestrated the merger between the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company and Dance Theater Workshop, establishing a prominent interdisciplinary performance center in Chelsea, NYC. This merger became a notable case study at NYU’s Steinhardt School and Yale’s School of Management.Davidson began her career as founding managing director of the Silk Road Project in 2001, expanding its global footprint and overseeing participation in major events like the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and World Expo in Nagoya, Japan.A passionate advocate for community engagement in the arts, Davidson champions initiatives prioritizing involvement and participation. At the Los Angeles Master Chorale, she expanded outreach through innovative performances and educational programs. Her leadership at New York Live Arts and the Silk Road Project similarly emphasized inclusivity and cultural bridging.With a background in professional lighting design, Davidson collaborated with artists like Yo-Yo Ma on international tours. A graduate of Oberlin College in theater, she lectures at Oberlin and guest teaches critical thinking at UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, NYU’s Steinhardt and Tisch Schools, and Università di Bologna's arts management program.Throughout her career, Davidson has produced 200+ new productions across music, theater, and dance, facilitating collaborations with institutions and labels like Sony Classical and Smithsonian Folkways.