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Alumni Bio Joseph Kluger

Joseph H. Kluger (M.A., 1979, Performing Arts Administration) has served as The Philadelphia Orchestra Association chief executive officer since May 1989, when he was appointed Executive Director, and has held the title of President since November 1991. He joined The Philadelphia Orchestra staff in 1985 as General Manager, after working with the New York Philharmonic, where he had been on staff in a variety of positions, culminating in the position of Orchestra Manager. Mr. Kluger studied piano and voice, the latter including a summer at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Prior to his in depth involvement with classical music, Mr. Kluger was both a director and performer in numerous amateur musical theater productions.

During Mr. Kluger's tenure as President of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, he has led the search and recruitment efforts for both current Music Director Christoph Eschenbach and his predecessor, Wolfgang Sawallisch. He has also played a catalytic role in the development of the Orchestra's new home in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Some of the Orchestra's other accomplishments under his leadership include:

• Commitments of $75 million, including a lead gift of $50 million from the Annenberg Foundation, towards a $125 million endowment campaign;

• Development of a model relationship of cooperation and collaboration with the musicians of the Orchestra, who now play an active role in all aspects of governance and decision-making;

• Establishment of a joint venture partnership with the musicians of the Orchestra, to maximize the distribution of its music via innovative electronic media technology;

• Pioneering efforts as the first major symphony orchestra to offer its music for "streaming" on the Internet;

• Historic tours to Vietnam (first by a U.S. symphony orchestra), Israel, China, Latin America; and

• Major initiatives to increase cultural diversity, educational activities and community partnerships.

Mr. Kluger is an internationally recognized expert in the classical music industry on recordings, broadcasts, the Internet and other electronic media activities and has served for over ten years as the Chairman of the Orchestra Managers' Media Committee of the American Symphony Orchestra League.

Mr. Kluger has been an active participant in civic groups in the Greater Philadelphia region. He has served on the Board of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, of which he is a past President, the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Governor Rendell Arts and Culture Transition Team. He is currently a member of the Board of the Arts and Business Council of Philadelphia, the Board of the Marian Anderson Award, and the Board of the Musical Fund Society.

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