Detroit Symphony Orchestra - Vice President of Marketing - Position Description

Sep 14, 2026

Upload by Anda

Detroit Symphony Orchestra seeks an experienced Vice President of Marketing to serve as a lead ambassador, engaging the Detroit community and strengthening audience growth through mission-driven arts marketing and communications. The role coordinates earned revenue streams, expands audiences, and deepens patron connections across orchestra, jazz, education, and presentation efforts. Reporting to the Chief Revenue Officer, the leader will oversee ticket revenue and patron service, mentor a marketing team, and align marketing with organizational leadership while cultivating key external partnerships.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time2 min

AccessFree to download

Position Summary

Reporting and Leadership

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Vice President of Marketing The Detroit Symphony Orchestra seeks an experienced, dynamic, results-driven and creative marketer. We are looking for someone who can engage and excite the Detroit community as the lead ambassador for an orchestra whose programs and performances attract diverse audiences and meaningful community partnerships that contribute greatly to the cultural vibrancy of this great American city. THE ORGANIZATION The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known internationally for trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and a deep commitment to serving its community. Making its home in the historic Orchestra Hall at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, the DSO actively pursues its vision to be an inclusive and culturally relevant community where all people can experience their world through music. Detroit has experienced incredible revitalization over the last ten years ushering in an exciting new era of strength, resilience, creativity, and cultural renaissance. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is recognized as one of the top orchestras in the nation, with a strong commitment to community engagement. The DSO defines its brand by connecting with and cultivating a diverse network of relationships throughout the city and its suburbs. These include neighborhoods, patrons, donors, students, city leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations, artists, and musicians, all contributing to its impactful presence and mission. The DSO is a complex organization. Operating 365 days per year, it is a performing arts institution, an educational facility, and a community center. Governed by an independent Board of Directors, the DSO employs both union and non-union employees as musicians, stage crew, and administrative staff. Creating a unified culture throughout the institution is an organizational imperative. The DSO is guided by the values of excellence, resilience, collaboration, and innovation and an enduring commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The DSO makes its home in historic Orchestra Hall, one of America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls. Since 2020, the charismatic Italian conductor Jader Bignamini has led the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as its 18th Music Director. The DSO’s performance schedule includes Classical, Pops, Jazz, Young People’s, and Neighborhood concerts, and orchestra collaborations with high profile artists from Steven Spielberg to Nas and Yo-Yo Ma. In July 2017, the DSO embarked on its first international tour in 16 years, making its debut in China and first visit to Japan in 19 years. Launched in 2016, The Peter D. & Julie F. Cummings Cube is the DSO’s black box performance space that offers innovative and alternative programming at the DSO. The Cube presents celebrated artists from around the world and multi-genre programming ranging from contemporary classical music and hip-hop to Latin Jazz and yoga set to live chamber music featuring DSO musicians. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has an annual operating budget of $35 million, with $9 .5 million (27%) coming from earned revenue, $22 million (63%) from contributed revenue, and $3 .5 million (10%) coming from the endowment. The DSO is led by a 23-member Board of Directors and 91 full-time staff, and hundreds of part-time employees. At full complement, the orchestra has 88 musicians. POSITION SUMMARY The Vice President of Marketing must be a dynamic, results-driven and creative marketing strategist who can engage and excite the Detroit community as the lead ambassador for an orchestra whose programs and performances attract diverse audiences and meaningful community partnerships that contribute greatly to the cultural vibrancy of the city and region. The department is building a sustainable revenue base, coordinating and integrating earned income streams, broadening and expanding the audiences the DSO serves, and deepening its con

FAQs

What is the Vice President of Marketing’s primary purpose in this role?

The Vice President of Marketing must engage and excite the Detroit community, acting as the lead ambassador for an orchestra whose programs attract diverse audiences and meaningful community partnerships.

Who does the Vice President of Marketing report to, and what areas are the department responsible for?

The role reports to the Chief Revenue Officer and leads a department focused on audience growth, ticket revenue, and patron service.

What marketing responsibilities and relationship-building are emphasized?

The leader will build strategies to increase lifetime value of current audiences and attract new audiences using relationship-based marketing, while cultivating partnerships with government, business, and other arts nonprofits to strengthen the DSO brand as a community asset.

Sep 14, 2026

Upload by Anda