Orchestra Fills Two Key Administrative Positions: Michael Frisco is Named Vice President of Marketing; Felecia Tchen Kanney is New Vice President of Communications

New Board Members Include Gabe Davis, Maria Espinola, Holly Mazzoca, Lisa Lennon Norman, Bradford “Tripp” Phillips, and Kari Ullman, and Usha Chilukuri Vance; Dara Fairman is Ex-officio MAC Representative; and, Francie Hiltz is Honored with Emerita Status

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CINCINNATI, OH (October 29. 2021) – The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has announced two appointments to its senior management team and several updates to the Board of Directors as it heads into the 2021/22 season, the Orchestra’s 127th. Following two comprehensive national searches, the CSO has appointed Michael Frisco, who was most recently Senior Director of Marketing & Audience Development for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to be its new Vice President of Marketing. And, Felecia Tchen Kanney, who was Director of Marketing for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, the umbrella organization for the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet, will be the Orchestra’s new Vice President of Communications.

“Both Michael and Felecia bring extensive marketing and communications experience from the orchestras they previously served, and each of them has demonstrated a passionate commitment to an inclusive approach in exciting a broader community about symphonic music. Michael and Felecia will become integral members of Cincinnati’s arts and cultural community, and we are pleased to welcome them on board,” said President & CEO Jonathan Martin.

Additionally, there are several updates to the CSO’s Board of Directors: six new members began three-year terms on September 1, 2021: Gabe Davis, Executive Director of the Citizen Complaint Authority of Cincinnati; Dr. Maria Espinola, a clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Holly Mazzoca, President, Wealth Advisor and Principal at Bartlett Wealth Management; Lisa Lennon Norman, President & CEO of Innovative Leaders, LLC; Bradford “Tripp” Phillips, Finance Manager for the GE Aviation Business Development Team; and, Kari Ullman, Principal at J&K Solutions. Usha Chilukuri Vance, a litigation associate in the San Francisco and Washington, D.C. offices of Munger, Tolles & Olson, began her Board service in 2020. Dara Fairman, Founder/CEO of Simple Better Solutions and Chair of the CSO’s Multicultural Awareness Council (MAC) replaced Daphney Thomas, her predecessor in that role, as MAC’s ex-officio representative in March 2021. And, in recognition of her longtime stewardship of the CSO, Francie Hiltz, Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Trustees, has been named Emeritus member of the Board.

“We’re pleased to welcome the incoming slate of CSO board leadership, who will bring innovative perspectives and insight to the organization. And, by electing Francie Hiltz as Trustee Emeritus, we acknowledge the incredible leadership she has provided over her years of service to the CSO, and know we will continue to rely on her for years to come,” said CSO Board Chair Rob McDonald.

The CSO’s subscription season begins October 29 and 30 with Music Director Louis Langrée conducting Freedom and Joy: works of Johannes Brahms and Andrew Norman symbolizing the freedom and joy of this moment of reunion and hope. Concertmaster Stefani Matsuo and pianist Drew Petersen are soloists.

Biographies:

Michael Frisco brings more than 16 years of experience in performing arts marketing and has been instrumental in cultivating diverse, non-traditional audiences at the orchestras for which he has served. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Marketing & Audience Development at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra where, for the past five seasons, he served as a DEI workgroup leader as part of a comprehensive, multi-year strategy, and directed audience development for students and young professional membership programs. Previously, he was Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Omaha Performing Arts, and before that Senior Director of Audience Development for the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida, where he developed targeted audiences for a variety of concert formats, from traditional programs to “club” style events and outdoor projected WALLCAST™ concerts. Michael earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance at the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Felecia Tchen Kanney served as the Director of Marketing for the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, the umbrella organization for the Toledo Symphony and Toledo Ballet, where she developed and implemented a comprehensive communications strategy that elevated institutional stories, community partnerships, educational programs, and mainstage performances. Felecia created the organization’s first digital media and social media plan, leveraging all owned and earned assets to drive growth in organizational reach and engagement. Felecia also spearheaded communications at the orchestra, including the appointment of Alain Trudel as music director and its merger with Toledo Ballet. Prior to arts administration, Felecia taught K-6 general music and beginning strings at Fremont City Schools and performed as a freelance oboist throughout Northwest Ohio. Felecia is a two-time graduate of Bowling Green State University having earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in business administration.

CSO Board Chair-elect Dianne Rosenberg is a Cincinnati native who has served as the Board Chair of many local institutions, including The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, The Cincinnati Park Board, University of Cincinnati’s CCM Friends Board, and the Family Independence Initiative Advisory Board. In addition, she has served on the boards of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, 4C for Children and the Cincinnati Preschool Promise Taskforce, among many others. Professionally, Dianne has a master’s degree in special education with a focus on educational diagnostic services. She has taught at the University of Cincinnati and has worked as the associate director A.D.D.P. Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She has also led her own private practice as an educational diagnostic specialist and school consultant at Hollister Center and Learning Communications Center. Previously, Dianne has been recognized for her philanthropic achievements as Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2017 Outstanding Director of the Year, the Association of Fundraising Professionals 2015 Volunteer of the Year, and the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s 2006 Robert V. Goldstein Volunteer of the Year. She was also selected as one of the 1999 Cincinnati Enquirer Women of the Year.