Matías Tarnopolsky

Matías Tarnopolsky began his role as president and chief executive officer of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association in August 2018.

During the first year of his tenure, the Orchestra received the largest gift in its history, launched a visionary free ticket program for the School District of Philadelphia, strengthened the historic and deep ties with China through new partnerships, and negotiated an extraordinary early contract with the musicians of the Orchestra. Tarnopolsky has brought a fresh eye to programming, working with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin to create unique concert experiences, and to further the place of The Philadelphia Orchestra in the communities it serves locally, nationally, and internationally.

Before joining The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, Tarnopolsky served for nine years as executive and artistic director of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to that he was vice president of artistic planning for the New York Philharmonic, senior director of artistic planning for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and producer for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers.

Tarnopolsky received degrees in music and musicology from the University of London’s King’s College. In 2013 he was named one of Musical America’s international “Movers & Shakers: 30 Key Influencers in the Performing Arts” and was selected as Classical Music “MVP” by the San Francisco Chronicle. In 2015 he was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. He serves as an officer on the board of New Music USA, the Executive Committee of the Avery Fisher Artist Program, the Advisory Council of the Tianjin Juilliard School, and the Pacific Harmony Foundation.