In over 30 years as arts administrator as senior management and consultant, I have been employed in four successful, long-term positions with the Minnesota Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

My good standing in the profession has included working with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for over 15 years as a lecturing faculty and interviewer during select subscription weeks, including participating as a lecturer for their three cycles of Mahler’s complete symphonies during Gustavo Dudamel’s tenure as its music director. Currently, I am artistic advisor of the Fort Worth Symphony working with music director, Robert Spano and Executive Director, Keith Cerny, on programming innovative projects.

Of special note, the Minnesota Orchestra reinvited me to consult with them as Artistic Advisor for the 2015-2017 seasons.

Regular international and national invitations to serve on competition juries—including serving as a 30-plus-year member of the Recommending Board of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and recently on the juries of the 2020 Honens Piano Competition, 2022 Wigmore Song Competition, and 2022 Concert Artist Guild Competition—provide great satisfaction interacting with national and international arts organizations identifying emerging great talent.  

Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging born out of lived experiences and demonstrated by regularly working with and leading organizations with differing needs to productive outcomes.

A particularly rewarding facet of my work has always been the opportunity to identify talented youth, offering mentorship and guidance in their particular and respective artistic journeys. 

My insight has been sought by leaders from the music industry with whom I have worked closely in the past and continue to do so in the present.

  • "In the 30 years of working together, Asadour Santourian has become an important partner in my musical life. His knowledge and intellect give a glimpse into the capacities of the Renaissance Man of past and, combined with his humanity, make him one of the most important artistic curators of his time. "

    Andreas Haefliger

  • "In restructuring the leadership of the Boston Symphony, it was clear to me that the training, education, humanities and community programming needed greater focus and Asadour Santourian was the person I wanted to take this responsibility. He brought to the programming of the Tanglewood Music Center and the Tanglewood Learning Institute a broader lens and deep intellect paired with the highest artistic standards. As importantly, he brought to the organization a fresh energy, sense of humor and openness that was welcomed by colleagues both on the senior team and across all levels of the staff."

    Gail Samuel, President and CEO Boston Symphony Orchestra (2020-2022)

  • "Mr. Santourian has always been an advocate for the music of our time. He has championed many of today’s most well-known composers, and has always been open-minded to artists of different demographics and backgrounds. He continues to believe in diversifying the landscape of contemporary classical music, while simultaneously showcasing the breath of music from the past."

    Adam Schoenberg, D.M.A.

  • "Asadour played a crucial role in identifying ways our organization could be in the forefront of promoting diversity in music, especially in choice of repertory and important artists. Generations of students and established artists who came through Aspen are grateful to him."

    Alan Fletcher, President and CEO Aspen Music Festival and School

  • "Mr. Santourian is one of the great artistic administrators today, with comprehensive knowledge and insightful discernment of talent. But perhaps more importantly, he is a great colleague and collaborator, a consummate gentleman, a superb mentor, and a leader who knows how to get the most out of the talents of those who work for him. I sincerely hope I will have the opportunity to work with him again in as rewarding and challenging a setting as Aspen’s; he is a gem. "

    Robert Spano, Music Director Aspen Music Festival and School, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (2000-2022)

Biography

Asadour Santourian joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in January 2022 as vice president for Tanglewood Music Center and Learning. 

Prior to his Boston Symphony appointment Asadour was vice president of artistic administration and artistic advisor of the Aspen Music Festival and School for 18 ground breaking years. He developed programs that were relevant to diversity, equity and inclusion, similarly season themes surrounding the human condition or timely topical material, other artistic initiatives including immersive and in-depth thematic mini-festivals. In his time the AMFS has garnered seven ASCAP Awards for Adventuresome Programming of Contemporary Music.

Previously artistic director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gergiev Festival in Rotterdam, he is a member of the Recommendation Board of the Avery Fischer Career Grants among others and has served on several jury panels including the Wigmore Song International Song Competition (returning Jury member in 2022), the Dublin International Piano Competition, the Barlow Endowment, Young Concert Artists, Inc., and Princess Christina Concours in addition to being a regular lecturer for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a featured lecturer for its 2012 Mahler Project.

From 1991 to 2000 he was the Minnesota Orchestra’s director of artistic planning and was appointed as the orchestra's artistic advisor in Fall of 2014. Recently invited to consult on artistic planning and projects with the Minnesota Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.