Lawrence J. Fried has spent more than twenty years in the field of arts management. He was appointed Executive Director of the Bellevue (WA) Philharmonic in February 2003 and oversees all fundraising, audience development, programming and educational activities. Under his direction, the Bellevue Philharmonic’s subscription sales have increased one hundred twenty one per cent, overall contributions have increased forty six per cent and the orchestra has finished four consecutive fiscal years in the black with no deficits. Seattle Weekly voted the Philharmonic “Best Classical Music Success Story – 2006.” Prior to Bellevue, he was General Manager and Artistic Administrator of the San Antonio Symphony, responsible for programming and producing all classical, pops, education and special concerts. During his tenure, the San Antonio Symphony received the “Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming” from the American Symphony Orchestra League.
Previously, Mr. Fried spent five years as Orchestra Manager and Artistic Administrator of The Little Orchestra Society, New York City’s second oldest professional orchestra. He has also served as Executive Director of the New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony; Executive Director of the West End Symphony/Music Outreach Education Project; Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Lower East Side Tenement Museum; and was a consultant in marketing and public relations for the New York City Department of Business Services, creating a major promotional tourism campaign involving over one hundred arts, cultural and historical organizations in five Lower Manhattan neighborhoods.
Active as a teacher and guest speaker, Mr. Fried was Program Coordinator and Adjunct Lecturer for New York University’s Program in Fundraising and Nonprofit Management and also taught at the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. He is on the national board of directors of the Conductors Guild and has written and lectured on arts and nonprofit management issues for many organizations.
Prior to entering the field of arts management, Mr. Fried was a professional musician, performing in a variety of musical settings. As a percussionist, he participated in the premieres of over one hundred and fifty solo and chamber works, including several composed for him.
Mr. Fried holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and did doctoral research in musicology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League, American Federation of Musicians, Chamber Music America, Opera America and The Recording Academy (NARAS.)
