Nearly 275 orchestra and performing arts professionals and supporters gathered in Costa Mesa from August 7-9 for the 2025 ACSO Annual Conference. By connecting with each other, learning from speakers and experts, and uplifting a wide array of voices and perspectives, attendees focused on forging a path to a future where orchestras thrive, communities flourish, and the enduring impact of music enriches the lives of all.
Revisit the conerence resources below, including keynote and session recordings, photos, and speaker slides and handouts. If you are looking for notes from your peer forum, contact conference@acso.org.
If you attended the conference and haven’t yet done so, please take a few minutes share your thoughts on the sessions you attended and the overall event, along with any suggestions for future conferences.
Photos & Media
Keynote, Session, and Musical Moment Videos
Conference Welcome and Thanks: ACSO Board President Scott Vandrick
Orange County's Arts and Culture Community: Arts OC President & CEO, Patrick Brien
Host Orchestra Welcome: Pacific Symphony President & CEO John Forsyte & Board Chair Arthur Ong
Award presented to Carl St.Clair by ACSO Board President Scott Vandrick, followed by Carl in conversation with Professor Christopher Trela, Film and Media Arts, Chapman University
Watch Video (26 min)
KEYNOTES
Michelle Cann: Why Representation in Programming Matters
Watch Video (44 min)
Closing Keynote - August 9, 2025 (videography by Godfather Films)
Dr. Tasha Golden: Orchestrating Wellbeing - Music's Role in Health, Connection, and Community Impact
The 44-minute video is available only to ACSO members until November 8, 2025. It can be accessed by logging in to the Member Portal and clicking on Resources in the navigation menu.
SESSIONS
CEO Roundtable: Resilience & Adaptation - August 8, 2025
Panelists: John Forsyte, President & CEO, Pacific Symphony; Emma Moon, Executive Director & CEO, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale; Kim Noltemy, President & CEO, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Natalia Staneva, CEO, New West Symphony
Moderator: Sarah Weber, Executive Director, Association of California Symphony Orchestras
Watch Video (78 min)
MUSICAL MOMENTS
Breakout Session Slide Decks and Handouts
SLIDES
Best Practices in Board Governance for Symphony Orchestras (PDF)
Presenters: Alison Kalinski, Senior Counsel, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore; Casey Williams, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Beyond the Stage: Strengthening Orchestras Through Collaborative Partnerships (PDF COMING SOON)
Moderator: Nagham Wehbe, Senior Vice President, Arts Consulting Group
Presenters: Yulan Chung, CEO, South Coast Chinese Cultural Center; Ameena Khawaja, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement, Pacific Symphony; Eileen Regullano, Director of Arts Engagement, Pacific Symphony; Stephen Salts, Director of Learning & Youth Programs, San Diego Symphony; Barry Silverman, Founder & Music Director, South Coast Symphony
If You Don't Know Where You're Going, Any Road Will Take You There: When is it Time for a Strategic Plan? (PDF)
Presenters: Bill Blake, West Coast Director, AMS Planning & Research; Lauren Frankel, Research Lead and Special Projects Manager, AMS Planning & Research
Legacy Giving On 5% of Your Time (Or Less) (PDF)
Presenter: Greg Lassonde, Principal, Legacy Program Specialists
Listening to Learn: How Audience Feedback Drives Change at California Symphony (PDF)
Presenters: Theresa Madeira, Director of Marketing and Communications, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Cory Schuman, Senior Coordinator, Patron Loyalty, California Symphony
Spreading the Word: Audience Engagement in a Post-Print World (PDF - Sounding Point; PDF - JDJK Consulting)
Moderator: Don Roth, Board Member & Past President, San Francisco Classical Voice
Panelists: Adrienne Andisheh, Founder & CEO, Sounding Point; Nora Brady, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, LA Phil; John Kieser, Co-Founder, JDJK Consulting; Hanneke van Proosdij, Co-Director, Voices of Music; TJ Sclafani, Communications Manager, Sounding Point.
Ten Tech Tools and the Information you need to Rule Digital Marketing for your Arts Organization (PDF)
Presenters: Nami Ataee, CTO, Dream Warrior Group; Dana Long, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Pacific Symphony; LaMae Weber, CEO, Dream Warrior Group
Volunteers are the Heart of Pacific Symphony (PDF)
Presenters: Abby Edmunds, Senior Director of Volunteer Services, Pacific Symphony; Sean Sutton, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Pacific Symphony
HANDOUTS & RESOURCES
Presenters: Alison Kalinski, Senior Counsel, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore; Casey Williams, Partner, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore