Adam Szabo has been appointed Managing Director of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) from January 2027, joining incoming Artistic Director Anna Goldsworthy as the organisation prepares to move into the redeveloped South Melbourne Town Hall in 2028. Originally from Sydney, Szabo trained as a cellist at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music and enjoyed a career as an orchestral cellist before moving into arts management. Szabo leaves his role as Director of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra; previously he co-founded and led the Manchester Collective as Chief Executive and Artistic Director, during which time the ensemble won an RPS Award.
Low Kee Hong has been appointed Artistic Director of the 26th Biennale of Sydney, opening to the public on 11 March 2028. Currently Creative Director of Factory International at Aviva Studios in Manchester, where he oversees the curatorial programme for the Manchester International Festival, Low was previously Founding Director and General Manager of the Singapore Biennale, Artistic Director and General Manager of the Singapore Arts Festival and Head of Theatre and Performing Arts at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong. For the 2028 Biennale he will bring together artists from across Australia and around the world, embracing contemporary art, music, architecture, performance, literature and nature.
Jennifer Barbee has been appointed President and Executive Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, succeeding Daniel Hart, who retires after 22 years. Barbee has served the BPO since 2010, most recently as Associate Executive Director and Vice President of Development and brings more than 25 years of experience in orchestra administration, fundraising and community relations. During her tenure she led the $35 million Crescendo Campaign, which grew the orchestra’s endowment to more than $60 million, and has helped raise $75 million in annual and operating support. A classically trained bassoonist, Barbee studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is a fellow of the League of American Orchestras’ Executive Leadership Program.
Agnieszka Rakhmatullaev has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grand Rapids Symphony from 14 September 2026, as the orchestra approaches its centennial in 2030. She joins from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing artistic planning, operations and a $34 million budget. Previously she served as Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Executive Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.
Three Pasifika arts leaders from Aotearoa New Zealand have been named ISPA Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Fellows for 2027–29. The fellowship connects emerging and mid-career arts leaders with a global network of performing arts professionals through mentorship, ISPA Congress participation and international exchange. Melanie Cottingham, General Manager of Pasifika Festivals Aotearoa, works at the intersection of performing arts, education and cultural leadership, strengthening Pacific identity and intergenerational connection through festivals. Iosefa Enari, Director of Pacific Dance NZ, brings more than 35 years of experience in dance and curates the Pacific Dance Festival across Aotearoa and the Pacific region; he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2020 for services to Pacific dance. Mīria George, Co-Director of Tawata Productions, is a writer, director and producer whose work spans theatre and cinema, including the landmark portmanteau film VAI, which premiered at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival.
Kerry Smith has been appointed Vice President of Artistic Planning of the Minnesota Orchestra. Originally from the Twin Cities, Smith joins from Utah Symphony and Utah Opera, where she served as Vice President of Artistic Planning, overseeing classical and pops programming and managing summer season programming at the Deer Valley Music Festival. Smith has previously held artistic planning roles at the North Carolina Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. In her new role she will collaborate with Music Director Thomas Søndergård on repertoire selection, commissioning, recording and special initiatives. She succeeds Erik Finley, who left the role in March 2026.
J. Mark Cantrell has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nashville Symphony. He succeeds Alan D. Valentine, who led the organisation for 28 years. Cantrell joins from the Colorado Symphony, where as President and CEO he strengthened the organisation’s financial position and helped secure a $90 million city bond commitment for the renovation of Boettcher Concert Hall. Cantrell previously served as President and CEO of The Florida Orchestra, CEO of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Executive Director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. Before moving into arts management, Cantrell enjoyed a 20-year career as a bass trombonist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Ballet and Boston Lyric Opera.
Ben McOwen Wilson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of PRS for Music, taking up the role on 12 October 2026. He brings more than 25 years of experience across the creative industries, having led YouTube and Google Play across EMEA and worked on digital platform development from UEFA’s early digital initiatives to chairing the UK Broadcasters’ Project Kangaroo. He has also contributed to the UK’s Creative Industries Council and Creative Industries Federation on issues including intellectual property and innovation. His appointment comes as PRS for Music navigates the challenges of AI, gaming and evolving digital music consumption for its 190,000 members.
Patrick Castillo has been appointed Artistic Planning Consultant at the San Diego Symphony. He joins from the New York Philharmonic, where he served as Vice President for Artistic Planning, overseeing more than 30 new commissions over five seasons. Castillo, who is also Founding Composer and Managing Director of Third Sound, was formerly Senior Director of Artistic Planning at the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Executive Director of contemporary music collective Hotel Elefant. In his new role he will collaborate with Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare on programming the Jacobs Masterworks series and summer classical performances at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.