Welcome to our new Executive Director, Paul Schwendener!
We are pleased to announce that Paul Schwendener has been appointed Executive Director of the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival and will assume this role June 1. Elaine Lipton, who announced her retirement earlier this year, will continue as Executive Director Emeritus through August.
“It is an honor to carry on the great tradition of this Festival, and I am delighted to work together with Elaine, the Board, and with Artistic Directors Jon Nakamatsu and Jon Manasse to ensure a smooth transition back to concert life in these challenging times,” says Schwendener.
CCCMF Board President David Farer says, “we are fortunate to have Paul on board as our new Executive Director. The Festival is already benefitting from Paul’s experience and insights. The synergies we already see among Paul, Jon and Jon, Elaine and with the Board are exciting and inspiring.”
Most recently Schwendener served as Executive Director of the All-Star Orchestra, an ensemble comprised of top players from major American orchestras that has produced five seasons of Public TV programs, winning seven Emmy® awards. The All-Star Orchestra has also created extensive music educational content and lessons for the Khan Academy, providing free instruction to over six million students.
Over a 30-year career in the classical music recording industry, Schwendener has been instrumental in producing and marketing hundreds of recordings with leading artists and ensembles, including the Complete Mozart Edition (180 CDs) for Philips Classics and the Milken Archive of Jewish Music (600+ recordings).
Schwendener is a Governor of the National Arts Club in New York City and, as co-chair of the Music Committee, has programmed multiple seasons of chamber music concerts. Born in Michigan, Schwendener studied at the Eastman School of Music and at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna where he also performed with the Choral Union of the Vienna Philharmonic for several years.
Please join us in welcoming Paul, and we all look forward to seeing you this summer when live music returns to the Festival.