EMIL J. KANG, Curriculum Vitae
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
Transformative arts leader with over 25 years of experience building world-class cultural institutions and navigating complex stakeholder environments. Proven track record of balancing artistic excellence with financial sustainability, leading major capital projects, and championing diversity and inclusion. Skilled in managing multidisciplinary arts programming, developing innovative revenue models, and fostering meaningful community engagement. Currently serves as the Agnes Gund Visiting Professor of the Practice at Brown University. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2012 as first Korean-American to serve on the National Council on the Arts.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Mellon Foundation, New York, New York 2019-2024
Program Director, Arts and Culture
The Foundation is the largest arts and humanities funder in the United States. Directed a team of 18 and $125 million in annual grantmaking across the arts and culture sector and served as a member of the Foundation's senior leadership team.
Led strategic programmatic shift toward the foundation's social justice mission.
Comprehensively re-populated the grantee portfolio to center equity and justice.
Built new team of highly mission-aligned and talented practitioners.
Led Foundation to experiment with highly innovative grantmaking practices to support artists more broadly, including expenditure responsibility grant making.
Increased grantmaking budget from $60 million to $125 million.
Conceived, authored, developed, and hired team to lead the $125 million Creatives Rebuild New York initiative which included the largest guaranteed income program for artists in the nation.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2005-2019
Executive and Artistic Director, Carolina Performing Arts
Special Assistant to the Chancellor for the Arts 2016-2019
Professor of the Practice, Department of Music 2007-2019
Served in dual role directing the university's performing arts program and driving change and growth in the arts across the University. Taught courses in music, artistic entrepreneurship and arts leadership.
Served as the Chancellor's primary advisor and leader for campus arts engagement, public arts programming, and curricular change. Member of the Chancellor's Cabinet.
Founded and served as executive and artistic director of Carolina Performing Arts, a program launched in 2005 that has become one of the nation's largest and leading university-based performing arts programs.
Envisioned, garnered support for, and led the development and construction of CURRENT, an innovative community-oriented immersive and interactive arts space in a multi-use development.
Launched and directed Arts Everywhere, a campus-wide initiative to introduce public art, arts events, arts interventions, mobile technology, and student engagement.
Oversaw launch of Carolina Performing Arts and grand re-opening of Memorial Hall.
Programmed and presented thousands of artists from around the world in every conceivable genre including the major orchestras, dance and theater companies, jazz ensembles, and performers.
Spearheaded over 60 commissioned works by and for artists such as The Mariinsky Orchestra, Yo-Yo Ma, The Hilliard Ensemble, Magdalena Kožena and Yefim Bronfman, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Nederlands Dans Theater, Taylor Mac, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Basil Twist, Vijay Iyer, Heiner Goebbels, Druid Theatre, Marie Chouinard, and others.
Launched major artist residency programs including DiSTIL, Creative Futures, and Nannerl O. Keohane Visiting Professorship with artists such as Nina Chanel Abney, Okwui Okpokwasili, Toshi Reagon, Shara Nova, Helga Davis, Robin Frohardt, and Abigail Washburn.
Developed and launched The Rite of Spring at 100, the nation's most comprehensive, multi-faceted festival celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Stravinsky masterpiece, featuring 12 newly-commissioned works by 20 internationally renowned artists in 100 performances, academic conferences in Chapel Hill and Moscow, symposia, masterclasses, and integrated curricula including 25 courses across campus taught on subjects related to Stravinsky and modernism.
Launched Arts@TheCore, the University's first major initiative in integrating the arts into the academy, establishing the University's first Mellon Distinguished Scholar position, faculty curatorial fellowship, and post-doctoral fellowship for Carolina Performing Arts.
Stewarded the University's in securing major grants in the performing arts and higher education from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation totaling nearly $5 million.
Built and oversaw department of 23 staff and managed annual budget of nearly $7.5 million.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), Detroit, Michigan 1999-2003
President and Executive Director 2000-2003
Vice President for Operations 1999-2000
As CEO, directed institutional vision towards understanding its role as Detroit's Symphony Orchestra through innovative programming, partnerships and educational activities. Understood that DSO needed to represent the richness and values of the Detroit community. Built awareness locally and globally that the Detroit Symphony Orchestra believes in the power of collaboration, the role we as a non-profit cultural institution can play in the revitalization of our city, and in celebrating our rich heritage using music as our vehicle for community change.
Served as chief spokesperson in local, national and international community. Developed relationships with civic, religious, and community leaders that resulted in improved community standing and greater community awareness of institutional vision.
Led efforts in the successful planning, construction and grand opening of the $60 million restoration and expansion of Orchestra Hall into the Max M. Fisher Music Center in October 2003. Project served as a key component of midtown Detroit's revitalization.
Held leadership role in the DSO's $125 million capital and endowment campaign, "Concerto for Community and Orchestra." Supervised annual fund that raises over $10 million annually. Increased annual fund from $9 million to $11 million over four years. Raised over $3.5 million for orchestra tours in the United States and Europe in 2001 and 2003.
Led relationship with the Detroit Public Schools and Detroit Public Television in the building of the $122.5 million public Ford Detroit High School for the Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts on land donated by the DSO. New high school and three-way partnership represented first known partnership of these three institutions in America to improve the lives of inner-city youth through arts and broadcasting education.
Developed DSO's second and third youth orchestras serving 200 children ages 8-18. Includes nation's first youth jazz orchestra under the umbrella of a symphony orchestra. Through youth orchestra program, DSO now trains 300 serious young musicians weekly. Created first Jazz Directorship for an American symphony orchestra. Position held by Marcus Belgrave (2002) and Herbie Hancock (2003)
In 2003, DSO received John S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to new American Music from American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and American Symphony Orchestra League (ASOL). Award was given in recognition of DSO's commitment to works of African-American composers.
Spearheaded major commissions by composers that furthered artistic and institutional identity in works by Wayne Shorter, Yusef Lateef, Michael Daugherty, Roberto Sierra, George Walker, & Hannibal Lokumbe.
Led search for DSO's new music director to succeed Neeme Jarvi. Developed many new relationships with world-renowned conductors resulting in first-time engagements for Detroit. Initiated and negotiated agreement with Itzhak Perlman to serve as Principal Guest Conductor and with Thomas Wilkins to serve as Resident Conductor.
Oversaw ticket sales and marketing resulting in earned income increase from $6 million in 1999 to nearly $10 million in 2003.
Led negotiations with American Federation of Musicians and DSO Musicians for new master agreements in 2001 and 2003.
Seattle Symphony, Seattle, Washington 1996-1999
Orchestra Manager
Responsible for managing day-to-day operations of 89-member orchestra and stage crew personnel; for supervising the execution of all symphony productions (rehearsals, performances, recordings, broadcasts, runouts, and tours); FY98 expenses, $11 million. FY99 expenses, $15.3 million.
Managed aspects of design/construction of Benaroya Hall relating to orchestra operations and concert production.
Key participant in collective bargaining with musicians union that delivered a ratified agreement eight months before deadline.
Engaged Orchestra in multiple off-site performances and improved service usage that resulted in a 10% increase in fee revenue.
CAPITAL PROJECT EXPERIENCE & FACILITY MANAGEMENT
Led the $60 million restoration and expansion of Detroit's Orchestra Hall into the Max M. Fisher Music Center (2003)
Oversaw grand re-opening of UNC's Memorial Hall as world-class performance venue following major renovation
Developed CURRENT, an innovative community arts space at UNC-Chapel Hill, integrating arts into mixed-use development
Managed operational aspects of Benaroya Hall construction for Seattle Symphony, focusing on performance space functionality
Developed facilities strategies for arts spaces as part of campus-wide Arts Everywhere initiative at UNC-Chapel Hill
Led partnership with Detroit Public Schools and Detroit Public Television for $122.5 million Ford Detroit High School for the Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts on DSO land
BOARD AND LEADERSHIP SERVICE
Jazz at Lincoln Center, Inc., Board Committee, 2025-Present
Silkroad, Inc., Board of Directors, 2024-Present
National Council on the Arts, Council Member, 2012-Present
The Office of the Mayor of New York, Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, Vice Chair, 2021-Present
International Society for the Performing Arts, Board of Directors, Executive Committee, 2018-2024
Martha Graham Dance Company, Board of Directors, 2016-2023
The Asia Society Creative Common Ground Project, Advisory Committee, 2017-2023
Institute of International Education, Artist Protection Fund, Selection Committee, 2015-2020
EMCArts, Board of Directors, 2015-2018
Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, UNC School of the Arts, Board of Advisors, 2008-2018
Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Board of Directors, Secretary, 2009-2012
North Carolina Symphony, Board of Directors, 2008-2010
EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION LEADERSHIP
Led comprehensive initiative to center equity and justice in Mellon Foundation's $125 million arts grantmaking portfolio
Developed and implemented diverse programming at Carolina Performing Arts, featuring artists from wide range of cultural backgrounds and artistic disciplines
Commissioned works from underrepresented composers and artists at Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Received 2003 John S. Edwards Award recognizing DSO's commitment to works by African-American composers
Launched "The Importance, Impact and Value of Queer, Trans, and Gender Non-Binary Theater Spaces of Color" keynote address and subsequent initiatives
Served as first Korean-American appointed to the National Council on the Arts
Moderated and participated in numerous panels on diversity in arts leadership and programming
Developed inclusive audience engagement strategies aimed at removing barriers to arts participation
TEACHING & ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 2024-Present
Agnes Gund Visiting Professor of the Practice of Arts, Brown Arts Institute
ARTS 1910: Artist@Work: Building the Artistic Innovators Collective
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2006-2019
Professor of the Practice, Department of Music
Music 296; Independent study course for music majors; Spring 2009-2019
Music 089/065; Understanding the World Through Music, first year seminar; Fall 2009-2017
Economics 327; Artistic Entrepreneurship, course in creative industries; Spring 2008-2009
Communication Studies 037; The Creative Process in Performance, first year seminar; Fall 2006-2007
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
The Emil J. Kang Artistic Residency Endowment at Carolina Performing Arts (2023)
The William S. Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence, Association of Performing Arts Professionals (2020)
The Centennial Medal, for service to the Artist Protection Fund, International Institute of Education (2020)
The Watauga Club, North Carolina (2015)
Order of the Golden Fleece, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2013)
Presidential Appointment to National Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts (2012)
SELECT INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar, Creating Futures: Art and AI For Tomorrow's Narratives, Salzburg, Austria (2024)
Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar, On the Front Line: Artists at Risk, Artists Who Risk, Salzburg, Austria (2023)
International Society for the Performing Arts, Board Member and Executive Committee Member (2018-2024)
"Transformative Leadership," International Society for the Performing Arts Congress, Panelist, Perth, Australia (2024)
"Encouraging Curiosity, Meaning, and Relevance," Romanian National Theater Festival, Bucharest (2018)
"How to Plan and Run an Arts Festival," Keynote Speaker, Shanghai China International Arts Festival (2015)
"International Arts Festivals and Urban Development," Keynote Speaker, Tianjin Conservatory, China (2014)
TEDGlobal, Scholarship Recipient, Oxford, UK (2009), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2014)
"International Touring Projects," Invited Lecture, International Society for the Performing Arts Congress, Zagreb, Croatia (2010)
Led Detroit Symphony Orchestra tours in Europe (2001, 2003)
Developed international co-commissioning partnerships with arts organizations worldwide
STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
Served as a member of the Senior Leadership team at the Mellon Foundation
Reported to both the University Chancellor and multiple oversight boards at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Member of the Chancellor's Cabinet at UNC-Chapel Hill, working directly with university leadership
Developed relationships with civic, religious, and community leaders as CEO of Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Managed complex board relationships as member of the National Council on the Arts
Led partnership with Detroit Public Schools and Detroit Public Television, coordinating multiple public entities
Served on City of New York's Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, navigating municipal governance
Balanced needs of diverse stakeholders including artists, audiences, funders, and institutional partners
Managed relationships with elected officials and government agencies for arts funding and support
Navigated complex union negotiations with musicians at both Detroit Symphony and Seattle Symphony
EDUCATION
University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Bachelor of Arts, Economics, May 1990, Minor, Art History
Certificate of Management Studies, Accounting/Finance, William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Leading for Organizational Impact, Center for Creative Leadership (2012)
Faculty Learning Community on Strategy & Leadership, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2011)
Young Presidents Organization, Greater Detroit Chapter (2001-2004)
Leadership Detroit, Class XXII, Detroit Regional Chamber (2001)
Strategic Perspectives on Non-Profit Management, Harvard Business School (2000)