Half of the musical equation has now been filled. Thomas L. Beckmen, chair of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, announced last week on behalf of the board of directors and Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel that Kim Noltemy, 55, has been appointed as the organization’s new president and chief executive officer, effective July 8, 2024.
Dudamel departs the orchestra at the end of the 2025–2026 season to take the helm of the New York Philharmonic, and with his successor yet to be appointed, Noltemy will be guiding the LA Phil into the future by helping to secure its next music director. As CEO, she will manage the strategy and operations of the organization, as well as continue to nurture the orchestra’s commitment to access and education. She will also steward the LA Phil’s three iconic stages: Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Ford.
Joining the LA Phil from the Dallas Symphony, where she has served as president and CEO since 2018, Noltemy brings to Los Angeles more than a quarter century of leadership experience at American symphony organizations. She helped diversify the Dallas Symphony by instituting comprehensive equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. This resulted in expanded programming, community initiatives, and increased performance and professional opportunities for women and groups historically underrepresented in classical music. Noltemy also broadened education and youth programs and significantly increased online access to concerts as part of a strategy to expand audiences.
Before joining the Dallas Symphony, Noltemy worked for 21 years at the Boston Symphony, most recently as its chief operating and communications officer.
Said Beckmen: “The LA Phil rose to its current prominence through a commitment to innovation, excellence, and accessibility. Kim Noltemy embraces those values thoroughly, as we learned through our international search.”
Beckman also expressed his and the board of directors’ gratitude to Daniel Song “for his outstanding work over the past year as interim CEO. We were able to conduct a search of this range and depth only because we knew we could rely on Daniel’s steady hand and nearly two decades of experience with the LA Phil.” Song will resume his role as chief operating officer, which he has held since 2021.
Noltemy noted that she’s “thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the LA Phil, an organization renowned for achieving the highest excellence while moving the entire field forward through its bold commitment to innovation, education, and community. A willingness to change and evolve is a core element of the LA Phil’s tremendous history and success. With the organization once more poised for transformation, I look forward to working with [this] magnificent orchestra.”
