Isaac Thompson Appointed Minnesota Orchestra President and CEO
Thompson, who is originally from Minnesota, currently serves as the Oregon Symphony’s president and CEO
Minnesota Orchestra Board Chair Nancy Lindahl today announced the appointment of Isaac Thompson as the Orchestra’s new president and CEO. Currently president and CEO of the Oregon Symphony, Thompson previously served as managing director of the New York Philharmonic and director of artistic administration for the Cincinnati Symphony. Originally from the Twin Cities, he grew up attending Minnesota Orchestra performances and now succeeds Brent Assink, who has served as interim president and CEO since September 2024. Thompson will begin his new role on October 14.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Isaac back to his ‘home’ orchestra as its new administrative leader,” said Nancy Lindahl. “We were drawn to Isaac’s vision for what an orchestra can mean to its community when it knits together artistic, social and civic connections with real impact. He comes to this role with an impressive background encompassing creative collaborations with orchestra musicians and artistic leaders, significant experience securing private and public support, an understanding of how to truly strengthen community connections and a bold, entrepreneurial spirit—not to mention a deep-seated love for the Minnesota Orchestra. We look forward to the partnership ahead!”
In the top administrative role, Thompson will guide the Minnesota Orchestra into the future, partnering to set an artistic course with Music Director Thomas Søndergård as he enters his third season and leading the next stage of development in the Upper Harbor Terminal amphitheater project, alongside First Avenue and the City of Minneapolis.
“The opportunity to return to Minnesota to lead my hometown orchestra at this moment is deeply meaningful,” said Thompson. “Many of my formative musical experiences occurred at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, and I credit my knowledge of and love for the symphonic repertoire to the Minnesota Orchestra. The admiration with which Minnesota holds its flagship symphony orchestra is truly inspiring, and I look forward to partnering with Music Director Thomas Søndergård, the board, musicians and staff in charting a vibrant future for this essential organization.”
The move to Minneapolis marks a return to roots for Thompson, who grew up in the Twin Cities and graduated from Mounds View High School, often attending Minnesota Orchestra concerts as a young violinist.
His career in orchestra management began with positions at the Music@Menlo festival in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Milwaukee Symphony before he joined the Cincinnati Symphony as director of artistic administration. During his subsequent tenure at the New York Philharmonic as managing director, he launched the Philharmonic’s new media platform (NYPhil+), spearheaded community partnerships during COVID with innovations such as NY Phil Bandwagon and oversaw planning for the ensemble’s inaugural season in the newly renovated David Geffen Hall. Since 2023 he has served as president and CEO of the Oregon Symphony, where he has overseen substantial growth in earned and contributed income, launched a new brand identity and led a comprehensive “anchor arts” resiliency initiative that led to a significant increase in arts funding from the Oregon State Legislature.
“Isaac is someone who understands the history and legacy of the Minnesota Orchestra and shares our aspirations for where we want to go next,” said Music Director Thomas Søndergård. “His artistic values, cooperative style, industry knowledge and strategic outlook make him a great match for this role, and I look forward to our collaboration as we plan for the Minnesota Orchestra’s future.”
Led by Co-Chairs Joseph Green and Martin Lueck, the 14-member President Search Committee comprised Minnesota Orchestra board, musician and staff representatives. The search was managed by Russell Reynolds Associates.
“After a thorough, collaborative and positive search process, we are delighted to welcome Isaac Thompson ‘home’ to the Minnesota Orchestra,” said bass trombone player Andrew Chappell, one of the musician members of the President Search Committee. “Isaac has the skill, experience and enthusiasm to build on our successes over the last ten years. Throughout the interview process, we were all struck by his love of orchestral music and his creative can-do spirit. In addition to being a life-long fan of the Minnesota Orchestra, Isaac has deep connections within the classical music world, as well as a strong understanding of community. We are excited to partner with him on the next chapter of our Orchestra. The musicians also want to thank Brent Assink for his enormous contributions in this transition year. He has been a calm, unifying influence, and we are so lucky to have had him as interim CEO.”
Nancy Lindahl concurred: “The entire Orchestra family shares its profound thanks with Brent Assink for stepping in over the last year. We were able to conduct a wide-ranging search of great depth because of Brent’s steady confidence and wise leadership during this period. He has given this organization so much—and we will never forget it.” Assink’s interim leadership appointment followed Michelle Miller Burns’ departure to lead the Dallas Symphony.
Background
Born and raised in the Twin Cities, Isaac Thompson played in the Minnesota Youth Symphonies and studied violin with Nancy Lokken and former Minnesota Orchestra Concertmaster Jorja Fleezanis in high school. He received a bachelor of music in violin performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a master’s from the University of Texas at Austin.
Following roles as artistic administrator at Music@Menlo and vice president of artistic planning at the Milwaukee Symphony—where he worked with former Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Edo de Waart—Thompson was named director of artistic administration with the Cincinnati Symphony and the Cincinnati May Festival in 2015, a role in which he helped plan for that orchestra’s debut appearances at the BBC Proms and the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
In 2017 he joined the New York Philharmonic, first serving as vice president of artistic planning and then managing director, in which capacity he oversaw departments ranging from Artistic and DEI to Education, HR, Orchestra Personnel and Operations. During his tenure he commissioned more than 30 world premieres on behalf of the organization and planned initiatives such as Project 19, the largest commissioning program of female composers ever undertaken by a major American orchestra, and served as part of the search committee that culminated in the appointment of Gustavo Dudamel as music director.
Since joining the Oregon Symphony as president and CEO, Thompson has co-chaired and launched “We Play for Portland,” a coalition of sports and arts partners advocating for their critical role in the city’s livelihood. He also led a redesign of the symphony’s season structure with an eye toward increasing artistic impact and maximizing earned revenue, grew and diversified its Board of Directors, and launched a new fundraising campaign.
Thompson serves on the boards of the League of American Orchestras and Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media.
About the Minnesota Orchestra
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra is known for acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning educational programs; and a commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of tomorrow, all based on the belief that music is for everyone. Each year, Minnesota Orchestra concerts and recordings are experienced by more than two million people via television, radio, digital streaming and on-demand platforms. The next season marks Music Director Thomas Søndergård’s third with the Orchestra and features collaborations with some of America’s great mezzos, the return of the Nordic Soundscapes Festival, a new recording showcasing works by Thomas Adès and opera-in-concert performances of Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle. The Orchestra makes its home at Orchestra Hall, a venue known for its modern design and acoustic brilliance, now celebrating its 50th season.
