Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Announces Former Cincinnati Symphony Executive Jonathan Martin as Interim President and CEO

Kalamazoo, MI (October 1, 2025) – The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) has announced that Jonathan Martin, former President and CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, will assume the role of Interim President and CEO beginning October 2025. Jessica Mallow Gulley remains the President and CEO until October 10, when she will leave to assume the role of President and Managing Director of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

“Jonathan Martin has enjoyed decades of experience leading some of the most prominent orchestras in the nation,” said KSO Board Chair Karen Isble. “Having his expertise to ensure the continuity of programming and operations during this time of transition will serve the KSO incredibly well as we present our exciting and ambitious concert season.”

Most recently, Martin served as President and CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, Cincinnati May Festival, and Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI) from 2017 to 2025. Under his leadership, this $110 million combined organization grew into one of the most respected and financially robust cultural institutions in the country.

“It is a privilege to join the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Music Director Julian Kuerti, and the dedicated community of musicians, staff, and Board of Directors,” says Interim President and CEO Jonathan Martin. “The KSO has a rich history of artistic creativity and a deep commitment to the community it serves. I am inspired by the organization’s passion for music education and its role in enriching the lives of people throughout the Kalamazoo region. I look forward to working with everyone in an interim capacity to continue the organization’s excellent work during this transition period.”

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors is preparing to launch a national search for a permanent President and CEO. Christopher Wingert and Anne Johnson of the Aspen Leadership Group, a leading national search firm specializing in performing arts and other nonprofit organizations, will guide the process. Wingert and Johnson have worked with hundreds of symphony orchestras and arts organizations, assisting them in times of leadership transition. The search will be led by a Kalamazoo Symphony Search Committee, chaired by KSO Board member and former Board Chair, Pamela Enslen, and comprised of representatives from the Symphony Board, administrative staff, and orchestra.

ABOUT JONATHAN MARTIN

With over 45 years of experience in the performing arts, Jonathan Martin is a highly accomplished arts executive with an impressive track record. Having led organizations including the Cincinnati and Dallas Symphony Orchestras, he has a proven history of success in strategic planning, governance, fundraising, artistic innovation, and interim leadership for arts institutions, nonprofits, and cultural organizations nationwide.

During his tenure at these major institutions, he spearheaded significant financial growth, launched innovative community-driven programming, and successfully led multi-million-dollar fundraising and capital campaigns. Earlier, Martin spent nine years as General Manager of the Cleveland Orchestra, overseeing all orchestral operations, including 22 national and international tours and residencies, and the management of the renowned Severance Hall and Blossom Music Center.

Beyond his executive roles, Martin was a co-founder of Equity Arc, a national coalition advancing racial equity in classical music. A native of Atlanta, where he began his career with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Martin holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Georgia State University.

ABOUT ASPEN LEADERSHIP GROUP

Aspen Leadership Group, a ZRG company, supports exceptional careers in the nonprofit sector and philanthropy, recruiting and supporting CEOs, Executive Directors, Chief Development Officers, COOs, CFOs, and other C-suite leaders, helping them recruit and develop diverse, inclusive, and high-performing teams. For more than a decade, ALG has helped hundreds of organizations across the nation hire highly skilled professionals at all levels and in all parts of the nonprofit sector, including arts and culture, education, healthcare, conservation, and community and social services. ALG’s search services and leader-to-leader consulting focus on building teams that strengthen revenue and drive increased impact.

ABOUT THE KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

For over 100 years, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra has been a part of the fabric of the community, creating transformative experiences through symphonic music, fostering music education, and connecting with the Kalamazoo community through music. Led by Music Director Julian Kuerti and President & CEO Jessica Mallow Gulley, the Kalamazoo Symphony performs for audiences across Kalamazoo in venues including the historic Chenery Auditorium, James W. Miller Auditorium, many local high schools and churches, and Bronson Park in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo.

With over 10 music education programs, including free, groundbreaking, after-school music programs like Kalamazoo Kids in Tune and Orchestra Rouh, the Kalamazoo Symphony serves as a national leader in fostering a love and appreciation of music in the classroom and throughout the community. Committed to building relationships through music, the Symphony’s genre-bending Sound Waves Series brings together local artists and art forms with Symphony musicians to create new, collaborative, community-built concerts.

Thanks to the incredible support from the Kalamazoo community, the Kalamazoo Symphony actively pursues its mission to serve the community through outstanding musical listening and learning experiences.

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