Kathryn R. Martin, Santa Barbara Symphony president/CEO, is being honored with the 2024 Executive Leadership Award by the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO).
The ACSO Executive Leadership Award, which celebrates chief executives who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in the classical music field, will be presented at ACSO’s 2024 Annual Conference in San Francisco, July 25-27.
The award recipients are recognized for their outstanding efforts in advancing their organization’s mission, creating inspiring visions, developing strategies to overcome challenges, and uniting teams to thrive in the evolving world of classical music performance.
Martin was nominated by the Santa Barbara Symphony’s Board, staff and musicians for her
achievements in revitalizing the orchestra following financial and leadership challenges that predated her tenure and were intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Through Martin’s dynamic leadership, The Symphony is bucking national trends,” The Symphony said. “It has a growing base of loyal season ticket subscribers, multi-year pledges of support via the innovative Crescendo program, continuity in the professional staff, a collaborative relationship with its musicians’ union, and dozens of volunteers committed to hosting the professional musicians during concert weeks.
“Martin’s experience as a turnaround expert with a 30-year career leading nonprofit organizations through times of change and uncertainty uniquely positioned her to help The Symphony advance its mission during and after the pandemic.”
“When an organization becomes clear on its purpose, and that purpose fills an unmet need in the community it serves, great things can happen,” Martin said. “I am deeply honored to receive the ACSO Executive Leadership Award as a testament to the unwavering dedication and resilience of the entire Santa Barbara Symphony family — our board, staff, musicians, faculty, and community supporters.
“Together — with our shared vision for artistic excellence and community impact and a belief that The Symphony is for everyone — we’ve navigated challenges and created opportunities to envision a vibrant and sustainable future for The Symphony to enrich our community.”
ACSO Executive Director Sarah Weber said, “We created this award because oftentimes the
work of an orchestra leader is the last to be recognized.
“In our field, executives spend their time supporting their board members, mentoring and coaching their staff, shining the spotlight on their music director, and collaborating with musicians.
“They lift up everyone before themselves. But they truly provide a strong backbone and influence the internal culture of any successful orchestra. Kathryn certainly does all that and more for Santa Barbara Symphony, and she is truly deserving of this recognition.”
The Symphony opens its 2024/25 Season Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20 with “Tchaikovsky’s Fourth,” featuring Pablo Sáinz-Villegas on Spanish guitar performing Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez.”
For tickets or more information, visit www.TheSymphony.org.