Chicago Classical Review

The Grant Park Music Festival announced Tuesday that Anwar Nasir would be its next president and CEO.

Nasir comes to Chicago’s lakefront festival from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, where he has been executive director since 2021.

“The Grant Park Music Festival’s combination of artistic excellence, public service, and community impact made it feel like the right next chapter,” said Nasir in a statement released by the festival. “I am honored to join the Festival as its new President and CEO, and I look forward to working alongside the Festival’s dedicated staff, board, artistic leadership, and extraordinary musicians to build on its remarkable legacy. Chicago is one of America’s great cultural cities, with a rich orchestral and musical tradition that has influenced generations of artists and audiences.”

“I am thrilled to welcome Anwar Nasir to the Grant Park Music Festival family,” said artistic director and principal conductor Giancarlo Guerrero. “He is a visionary leader whose passion for the arts and commitment to community engagement have made a lasting impact across our cultural landscape. I look forward to working closely with him to lead our organization into an exciting new chapter.”

Nasir, a Philadelphia native, succeeds Paul Winberg, who retired on April 30. The festival’s CFO Hannah Lehman is serving as interim president & CEO until Nasir’s arrival later this summer.

Before his current position in Louisiana, Nasir was chief revenue and advancement officer at the Omaha Symphony and worked in various management roles with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, and the Atlanta Ballet.

Nasir has also worked in leadership roles with the International Ticketing Association (INTIX), Tessitura Network, and Syracuse University. He is the co-founder of the Black Arts Leadership Alliance and has a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University.

The Grant Park Music Festival opens June 10 and runs through August 15. gpmf.org

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