Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Choral Arts Appoints Tad Czyzewski as Next Executive Director

Choral Arts names Tad Czyzewski (above) Executive Director

From our friends at the Choral Arts Society of Washington, DC...

The Board of Directors of The Choral Arts Society of Washington (Choral Arts) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tad Czyzewski as its next Executive Director, effective with the 2016-17 season, providing dual leadership alongside Artistic Director Scott Tucker. Mr. Czyzewski was selected after a rigorous eight-month search to succeed retiring Executive Director Debra L. Kraft. The Board voted unanimously and enthusiastically to confirm Mr. Czyzewski’s appointment.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are pleased to welcome Tad Czyzewski as the new Executive Director of Choral Arts. Tad possesses the ideal combination of business acumen and arts management to lead us into our next half-century,” said Nicholas R. Smith, Chair of the Board.



“I am pleased that the Board has selected Tad Czyzewski as the next Executive Director for Choral Arts, helping to ensure that the excellent musical standard set by Norman Scribner from day one and now carried on by Scott Tucker will continue to leverage Choral Arts to accept challenges regionally and internationally to work with the best arts professionals in the business,” said Debra L. Kraft, Executive Director of Choral Arts. “Choral Arts’ superior chorus and highly skilled staff are ready for Tad's multi-faceted abilities to build on Choral Arts’ storied legacy," said Kraft, who will retire August 31 at the end of the 2015-2016 season after a 12-year tenure in this role.

Of his appointment, Mr. Czyzewski said, “I am thrilled to join one of the preeminent institutions in the choral world. The Choral Arts Society of Washington is renowned for its innovative, high-quality programming, standing as a testament to Debra's stewardship and to the late Norman Scribner's legacy of excellence and love for the choral art form. I am eager to collaborate with Maestro Scott Tucker and the entire organization in upholding these traditions, pursuing new opportunities for growth, and enhancing both Choral Arts’ national reputation and its international presence.”

“Tad Czyzewski is just the right person to lead Choral Arts into the future. His impressive business credentials combined with his experience as a professional singer make him uniquely qualified for the challenges that face arts organizations today,” said Scott Tucker, Artistic Director.

Tad Czyzewski is a seasoned leader with more than 19 years of experience in management, marketing, development, and governance in both the non-profit and the private sector. Most recently, Czyzewski served as the Business and Development Director for the Washington Revels. He is an active member of the Board of Directors of Chorus America where he is recognized for his strong ideas, skilled use of data and analytics and passion for the choral arts. Prior to joining the Washington Revels, Mr. Czyzewski founded his own marketing firm, and also served in various marketing and product management roles at Capital One. Tad is a professional vocalist and performs with both the Washington National Opera Chorus and the Washington Concert Opera Chorus.

ABOUT CHORAL ARTS:
In its 50 years, the Choral Arts Society of Washington (Choral Arts) established and maintains a dedication to excellence. Led by Artistic Director Scott Tucker, Choral Arts’ commitment to artistic excellence is demonstrated by frequent invitations to perform regularly with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and other world-class orchestras including London Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, and the Mariinsky Orchestra, as well as alongside legendary conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Marin Alsop and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Choral Arts is committed to connecting choral music to the country’s growing diversity and partnering with global organizations to develop inspiring programs. Choral Arts also stands on a secure and stable financial and governance foundation.

Founded in 1965 by Artistic Director Emeritus Norman Scribner (1936–2015) Choral Arts stands out as a leader among its peers, earning awards, not only for its artistic excellence, but its administrative leadership and educational portfolio. Under the executive direction of Debra L. Kraft, Choral Arts has consistently operated in the black since 2004, remaining fiscally strong in spite of recent economic challenges.