Peter Kjome

Q: What most notably stands out about your leadership style or what is an example of leadership success you can share with our readers?

It is my goal to be a collaborative leader who engages key stakeholders to achieve artistic and economic success. Many people — including current and past board members, musicians, staff, patrons and other community leaders — have expressed the desire to work together and ensure our organization’s strength and positive direction. Vital work is underway to chart the course for a bright future and make that future a reality, and I greatly appreciate the contributions by leaders who care about The Phoenix Symphony, its service to the community, and our future.

Together, and with the support of our community, The Phoenix Symphony is able to enrich the lives of many thousands of people and their families each year. Our shared efforts will help advance our great orchestra so that Phoenix and Arizona are home to one of the most innovative and dynamic orchestras in the country.

Q: What impact has COVID-19 or the disruptions of the past 18 months had on you as a leader?

The pandemic and the disruption in our ability to present live concerts was a tremendous challenge for performing arts organizations. With that said, the pandemic brought new urgency to innovate, collaborate and respond to evolving and often unpredictable circumstances. After taking action to help protect the health and safety of our patrons, musicians and staff, we are focused on the important work that lies ahead as we continue to recover from the pandemic.

This experience has served as a reminder not only of the importance of determination, but also of the powerful resilience we have when working together toward a shared goal. It is exciting to welcome audience members back to the concert hall, and we seek to provide extraordinary musical experiences that inspire and advance our community, enriching the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. This will, in turn, help our Symphony continue to rebuild our family of audience members and enrich the lives of thousands of people each year.

Q: What do you feel we can be doing as a business community to empower economic growth here?

Numerous studies have shown that arts and culture generate substantial economic impact and are a key contributor to the job opportunities and quality of place that are crucial to attracting investment and generating growth. Investments in the arts yield strong economic results while enriching lives in our vibrant community. At the same time, this vital work is a shared responsibility across sectors — within the business community and beyond — and we can increase our collective impact by working together.

As part of these efforts, it is important for the greater Phoenix area and Arizona to have a thriving, vibrant and dynamic performing arts sector to help attract and retain individuals, families and businesses. If the Phoenix Symphony can play a role in attracting business investment, and our organization then helps enrich the lives of people who choose to invest and make their home in our community, that is one way we can help make a difference as the largest performing arts organization in Arizona.

Q: What is new and notable for your company’s near future that will impact our economy?

This is a time of innovation, change and growth. This season will be one of particular significance for The Phoenix Symphony, and the 2023-24 Season is truly extraordinary. In addition to our performances at Symphony Hall and other venues across the Valley, our community engagement and education programs reach an economically and ethnically diverse group of 125,000 participants each year. These programs engage multiple generations, and our four concentrations include education and lifelong learning, health and wellness initiatives, and other programs.

After working in the orchestra field for many years, I believe these programs are among the finest in the nation. I am optimistic about the future because of the engagement and enthusiasm of people who care deeply about The Phoenix Symphony. We have been guided and supported over many years by visionary philanthropists such as Virginia G. Piper. Today, I continue to be inspired by Lifetime Director Jeanne Herberger and other leaders, and I know our Symphony occupies an important place in the hearts of many in our community. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to help provide extraordinary musical experiences that create community and enrich the quality of life in Phoenix and Arizona.