President & CEO

Wharton Arts welcomes nominations and applications for the newly defined leadership position of President and CEO, available in the Spring of 2026.

Wharton Arts
(https://whartonarts.org/)

With a history spanning nearly five decades, Wharton Arts is New Jersey’s largest independent non-profit community performing arts educator, serving nearly 2,000 students annually through a broad spectrum of musical programming. Four core programs – the New Jersey Youth Symphony, New Jersey Youth Chorus, Paterson Music Project, and Wharton Performing Arts School – provide exceptional performing arts education for students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Developed more than 45 years ago, the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) is a tiered orchestral program that offers ensemble education opportunities for more than 500 students in grades 3 through 12. NJYS ensembles have performed at venues ranging from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Musikverein in Vienna to local assisted living centers, libraries, and street fairs in New Jersey. NJYS has received awards for adventurous programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and has been on six European tours, most recently to Italy and France in 2023. NJYS’s flagship ensemble, Youth Symphony, will travel to Scandinavia, Finland, and the Baltics, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, in the summer of 2026.

Paterson Music Project (PMP) is an El Sistema-inspired program that uses music to empower and inspire young people through the community experience of ensemble learning and playing. PMP provides accessible, affordable, and high-quality instrumental instruction and focuses on musical excellence, community, and life skills. Since its inception in 2013, the program has grown from one class of 24 third graders to nearly 350 students in first to twelfth grades, providing tuition-free musical training to students from more than 25 schools throughout Paterson. PMP’s first class of third graders graduated from high school in June 2023. PMP now engages alumni as interns and leaders in the program.

The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC) merged with Wharton Arts in 2022 as the Chorus celebrated its 30th anniversary season. NJYC is an auditioned choral ensemble for students in grades 3 through 12. NJYC encourages a love and appreciation for choral music while nurturing personal growth and creativity. NJYC’s more than 150 members regularly perform throughout the state and tour across the country. Past performances include the White House, the Super Bowl, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Radio City Music Hall. In the summer of 2025, 30 choristers toured Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, appearing at renowned venues including the Cologne Cathedral, Bonn Cathedral, and Menin Gate in Ypres.

The Performing Arts School (PAS) provides instrumental and vocal instruction, musical theatre, drama, and other courses for students ages four through adult. PAS promotes personal growth through excellence in music education. PAS students have participated in music festivals and recitals in venues that include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Musik Quartier in Vienna. A member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Wharton Arts offers private and group lessons, summer camp, and a CAFÉ (Creative Aging for Everyone) Choir for aspiring and accomplished musicians alike.

Wharton Arts is governed by a Board of 17 Trustees, has an annual operating budget of approximately $4 million and a team of more than 100 artistic and administrative staff members. Trustee Erika Fanelle is Interim Executive Director; Helen Cha-Pyo is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. Wharton Arts operates three campuses located in Berkeley Heights, New Providence, and Paterson, New Jersey and draws students from twelve New Jersey counties.

The Opportunity

The President and CEO of Wharton Arts will assume a newly defined and expanded leadership role that includes responsibility for all aspects of the organization, both artistic and administrative. The CEO will have the opportunity to work with a dedicated and engaged board, faculty, and staff as they continue to expand the depth and reach of their education programs for children and adults. The CEO will take a lead role in developing the resources needed to secure a new shared music education facility for NJYS, NJYC, and the Performing Arts School. The CEO will ensure that Wharton Arts continues to represent the highest standards of excellence in music education programs and activities.

The Position

Reporting to the Board of Trustees through the Co-Chairs, the President and CEO provides leadership and vision to ensure that Wharton Arts fulfils its mission and achieves its goals for excellence in music education, community engagement, and long-term financial sustainability. The CEO is responsible and accountable for all aspects of Wharton Arts’ administration and operations, including: artistic planning and operations; budgeting and financial management; fundraising and external relations; program administration; marketing, promotion, and public relations; site development and facilities management; human resources; and community engagement. The CEO fosters an environment that allows Wharton Arts to recruit and retain the highest quality artistic and administrative staff.

The President and CEO articulates the vision, mission, and goals of Wharton Arts to internal and external audiences. The CEO takes a leadership role in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of donors. The CEO leads the planning and execution of a capital campaign for a new music education facility. The CEO serves as chief spokesperson for Wharton Arts and advocate for the importance and value of music education throughout the community.

The President and CEO oversees the financial management of Wharton Arts, including budgeting, financial planning, and management of cash flow. The CEO assures that Wharton Arts achieves its annual and long-term budget goals for enrollment and earned and contributed income. The CEO maintains transparency in financial reporting to internal and external audiences and ensures that the Board and the Finance Committee have the information they need for sound decision-making.

The President and CEO leads Wharton Arts strategic planning. The CEO ensures the effective development and utilization of the human resources needed to accomplish the organization’s mission. The CEO oversees the recruitment and selection of faculty and the evaluation of faculty, programs, and curriculum. The CEO gives leadership and guidance to the artistic and administrative staff and provides a welcoming environment for students, parents, families, and other community stakeholders.

The President and CEO represents Wharton Arts in New Providence, Berkeley Heights, and Paterson, in Union, Passaic, and neighboring counties, and is an active member of the arts and education community throughout the state and nationally.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with the ability to embrace and articulate the vision, mission, and goals of Wharton Arts with clarity and conviction. The successful candidate will have a passionate belief in the value and importance of music education and the role that a vibrant music education center plays in development of children and the cultural life of a community. The candidate will have significant successful leadership and management experience with performing arts and/or music education organizations.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with the vision and imagination to chart future directions, recognize opportunities, forge consensus, and harness the energies of diverse constituencies to accomplish common goals. The CEO will be a good listener with excellent interpersonal skills. The CEO will be decisive leader and a fearless agent for change when change is needed.

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic fundraiser with the proven ability to achieve and exceed organizational goals for philanthropic support. The candidate will have strong experience in all aspects of fundraising, including annual giving, special events, and endowment campaigns. Experience achieving capital campaign goals of $10 million or more will be a plus. The candidate will be able to speak and write persuasively to diverse internal and external audiences.

The successful candidate will be an experienced manager with the demonstrated ability to set expectations and assure both financial and operational accountability throughout the organization. The candidate will be able to lead staff in an environment that fosters creativity, a commitment to excellence, and teamwork. The candidate will be able to innovate, manage change, move an agenda forward, and resolve conflict.

The successful candidate will be knowledgeable about facilities and project management. The candidate will bring successful experience working with local governments, developers, and community leaders to create alliances that achieve shared goals.

The successful candidate will have an engaging public personality and presence, high energy, and excellent listening skills. The candidate will be a leader who fully embraces principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. The candidate will have the ability to interact effectively with stakeholders who represent every aspect of diversity in age, education, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

The successful candidate will be kind, creative, curious, and flexible. The candidate will have at least ten years’ senior executive experience and will possess common sense, sound judgment, and good humor in abundance. The successful candidate will be willing and able to maintain a schedule that includes frequent evening and weekend events.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $185,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Wharton Arts offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, a retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and paid time off.

Applications

Wharton Arts welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, or marital status, or any other basis protected by law. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Please submit a resumé along with a cover letter that describes your specific interest in the mission and work of Wharton Arts and your qualifications for the position as described in the candidate profile. On a separate sheet, provide the names and contact information for several professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s knowledge and agreement.

Electronic submissions are requested. Please send to:

President and CEO – Wharton Arts
c/o Catherine French Group
applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com

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