Symphony CEO gets new gig in S.F.
Hanson helped build donor base, outreach efforts
Executive director and CEO Mark Hanson will leave the Houston Symphony to become the executive director of the San Francisco Symphony, just months before the start of the Houston Symphony’s new season.
Hanson, 43, who has been with the Houston Sympho- ny since 2010, will begin his new job Sept. 1. The move could be seen as a step up for the relatively young executive director, as the San Francisco Symphony boasts a larger operating budget — $78 million during 2014-15.
During his tenure, the Houston Symphony’s budget grew from $25 million to $34 million, and the orchestra recruited music director Andrés OrozcoEstrada.
Hanson and his wife Christina chaired the symphony’s gala in May, helping raise more than $1.6 million for the education and community programming.
“He’s a strong leader, and he’s innovative,” said Houston Symphony Board President Janet Clark. “This reflects very well in terms of all his accomplishments.” Clark said the symphony is moving forward “with some urgency” to find a replacement. Chief Development Officer David Chambers and Chief of Strategic Initiatives Amanda Dinitz will serve as co-interim executive directors.
Hanson succeeds Brent Assink, who stepped down in March from his position at the San Francisco Symphony.
“I take very seriously the commitment to expanding the profile of the San Francisco Symphony, both internally and externally,” Hanson said. “I want every single member of the Bay Area community to feel a sense of pride in what the San Francisco Symphony is doing, and I’m not yet convinced that that has been accomplished.”
Hanson has spent seven years in Houston, where he has taken vigorous steps to expand the orchestra’s donor and subscriber base and to broaden the orchestra’s profile throughout the community. Among the initiatives of his tenure were a multiyear plan to strengthen the orchestra’s financial standing, a growth in multimedia performance and outreach programs, and focused outreach efforts to the city’s African-American, Hispanic and Asian communities.
“Mark is someone who is very focused and driven,” said Steven Mach, the past president of the Houston Symphony board. “He’s always on. You get him 24/7, 365 days a year, and he won’t take no for an answer.
“Even before he came to Houston, when he wasn’t even on the payroll yet, he was already working on one of our major funders to make a substantial gift.”
Hanson was able to balance the goals of artistic excellence, community outreach and financial
sustainability, Clark said. She pointed to various programs that involved bringing the orchestra into new communities, and bringing younger, more diverse audiences into Jones Hall.
“Our vision is to be a top 10 orchestra that’s the most accessible and relevant,” she said. “Mark understood competing objectives. Even though his heart is in one place, his brain is engaged.”
Hanson studied cello at the Eastman School of Music but transferred to Harvard to pursue “other academic itches,” he said. He earned a degree in social studies and soon discovered an interest in nonprofit management.
He enrolled in a management training program overseen by the American Symphony Orchestra League (now the League of American Orchestras), and went on to hold leadership positions with the Rockford (Ill.) Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville (Tenn.) Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony before being hired in Houston.
His wife, who has an MBA and a master’s degree in arts administration, has worked as director of marketing at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Chicago Symphony. They are the parents of three sons, ages 11, 8 and 6.
“I hope this will be my last orchestra job — and I know that Christina and our boys are hoping that too,” he said. “I’m humbled to have the opportunity to be welcomed into the San Francisco Symphony family, and I’m going to take my responsibility to help steward this organization very, very seriously.”
The Houston Symphony’s 104th season begins on Sept. 9 with a concert featuring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.
Wei-Huan Chen is a staff writer for the Houston Chronicle and can be reached at wchen@chron. com. Joshua Kosman is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.