NEW ORLEANS, La (press release) – The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is pleased to announce that accomplished and innovative orchestra executive Scott Harrison has been named Interim Executive Director and Senior Strategic Facilitator. As Interim Executive Director, Harrison will lead the organization’s efforts to remain present and vital in response to the pandemic and work with stakeholders to develop a long-term strategic plan to ensure future artistic impact and financial viability as the LPO serves our community for decades to come.
Celebrated as a leader with “imagination and ambition” by the LA Times, Scott Harrison has led multiple organizations through uncertain times with a focus on culture and creativity, helping them build compelling cases for their futures, weather changing environments with resolve and clarity, and adopt equitable practices to confront historical barriers of exclusion.
Board President Dwight McGhee noted, “In his first few weeks with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Scott Harrison has really hit the ground running. He has a plethora of ideas to improve the LPO and brings a leadership style that will instill confidence in our community. It’s truly a new dawn for our orchestra!”
Prior to joining the LPO, Scott was Interim Executive Director of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (HSO), helping them write a new narrative as a sustainable organization with a vibrant role to play in the civic, cultural and economic life of Hawaii. He also served as Executive Director of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra where he launched the LA Orchestra Fellowship, and he was Vice President of Advancement and External Relations at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Max M. Fisher Music Center. During his time in Detroit, Scott developed Live from Orchestra Hall, a global platform for virtual concert activity with over one million viewers worldwide – with an additional 100,000 students tuning into specially-produced “Classroom Edition” webcasts.
Scott is a founding board member of BLUME Haiti, which supports the creative development of youth by strengthening Haiti’s music education ecosystem. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, and executive education programs including National Arts Strategies’ Chief Executive Program and Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management. Scott has spoken, facilitated, and taught for many organizations including the League of American Orchestras, Tessitura Network, Global Leaders Program, Classical: Next, Arts Midwest, Association of California Symphony Orchestras, and Spanish Association of Symphony Orchestras.
” I am not only honored that the Board of Directors has asked me to lead the LPO through this executive transition and necessary reimagining of our programming and presence, but also confident that we will find many meaningful and equitable ways to serve Greater New Orleans at a time when music has more to offer than ever. ”
