The Music Center Appoints Valentine Kang Gelman as New Senior Vice President of Advancement

The Music Center Appoints Valentine Kang Gelman as New Senior Vice President of Advancement

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Music Center, Los Angeles' premier performing arts center, today announced the appointment of Valentine Kang Gelman as senior vice president of advancement. Gelman joins The Music Center after a 17-year career with Cambridge in America, the U.S. fundraising arm of Cambridge University and its 31 independent Colleges, where she served as director of campaign programs and advancement resources and director of development relations. She will assume her new position with The Music Center on March 1, 2016.

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Gelman brings significant experience in fundraising and an understanding of both the performing arts and education to her new role. As part of Cambridge in America's senior team, she managed American alumni leaders and volunteers to develop support for Cambridge University's $2 billion 800(th) anniversary capital campaign and was responsible for ensuring top U.S. donors were fully engaged in Cambridge's fundraising initiatives. She is credited with developing a comprehensive prospect research and donor relations program, which broadened the University's reach to donors and board members in fields such as technology, arts & humanities, finance and biotech. Prior to her tenure with Cambridge in America, Gelman worked with major international soloists and orchestras at Columbia Artists Management and International Artists Group. She began her career at the Juilliard School as an arts administrator.

Reporting to The Music Center President and CEO Rachel Moore, Gelman will be responsible for planning and leading an aggressive, sustainable advancement program that builds on the organization's traditional donor base with a focus on increasing contributed revenue. She will work closely with Moore to cultivate support from individuals, foundations and corporations for The Music Center's current artistic and educational programming, as well as transformational funding for the anticipated renovation of The Music Center Plaza, program expansion, and The Music Center's endowment.

"I am delighted to welcome Valentine to The Music Center and look forward to partnering with her as we deepen our relationships with current funders and engage new communities of supporters," Moore said. "Valentine's fundraising expertise and strategic insights will be especially important as we assume a leadership role in diversifying the performing arts, both on stage, by attracting new audiences with even more relevantand accessible programming, and off stage, by diversifying our board and staff," Moore said.Gelman is the first of four senior hires Moore is planning as she expands The Music Center's executive leadership team. Moore became president and CEO of The Music Center in October 2015.

"I am honored to join The Music Center, whose commitment to artistic excellence is without comparison," Gelman said. "Couple that commitment with Rachel's passion and drive to reach broader, more diverse audiences with new, innovative arts experiences, and The Music Center has a wonderful opportunity to excite current funders, as well as generate a new means of support," she added.

Gelman received an M.A. in Organizational Leadership and Psychology from Columbia University/Teachers College in 2004 and a B.A. in Communications from Wheaton College in 1993. She also completed the Executive Education Program in Leadership Development at Columbia Business School's Institute for Not-for-Profit Management in 2001. A native of New York, she is fluent in Korean.

About The Music Center

The Music Center is Los Angeles' home to the world's greatest artistic programs and events. With four iconic theaters and four renowned resident companies - LA Phil, LA Opera, Center Theatre Group and the Los Angeles Master Chorale - and recognized for its illustrious dance programming, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, The Music Center is a destination where audiences find inspiration in the very best of live performance, as well as nationally recognized arts education and participatory arts experiences. For more information, visit musiccenter.org

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SOURCE The Music Center

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The Music Center

CONTACT: Bonnie Goodman, For The Music Center, 213-308-9539, bgoodman@goodmancommunicationsgroup.com

Web Site: http://musiccenter.org


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