It’s been a busy summer for Michael Naess, who joined the Holland Symphony Orchestra in June as its new president and CEO, taking the baton from Kay Walvoord, who co-founded the institution and led it for 36 years.
His first HSO event was last week’s
Music Moves Us, a multiday, multicultural series of music and movement activities culminating with the “Music Unites Us: Brazilian Finale” at Kollen Park on Saturday.
The series, made possible through a partnership with more than 20 organizations, reflects his belief in the “transformative power of music and movement to unite, enrich, and celebrate the diversity of our community in shared spaces of accessibility and enlightenment.”
Worked with major organizations
Naess comes to the role with extensive experience. For three decades, he has worked as a marketing and fundraising professional for organizations such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Carnegie Hall, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, and most recently the vice president of development at the Grand Rapids Symphony.
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Michael Naess
Born in Houston and raised primarily on the East Coast, Naess has family in Virginia and Munich. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Renaissance and Baroque choral music from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and continued his education at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. He describes himself as a passionate performing arts enthusiast who loves travel, physical fitness, classical music, and dogs.
Naess says he is “committed to the life and prosperity of live orchestra music because it brings joy and connection to our community, enriches the human spirit and has the power to transform lives for the better. The standing ovations, roaring applause, and the smiles on the faces of the musicians, students and audience members are the great fruits of our passionate labor.”
The Lakeshore caught up with Naess to talk about what drives his love of orchestras and what he hopes to accomplish with HSO.
The Lakeshore: Can you tell us about your previous work experience and how it prepared you for your new role as the CEO of the Holland Symphony Orchestra?
Michael Naess: Over the past two decades, I have been fortunate to work in the marketing departments of performing arts organizations such as the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony. More recently I served as the vice president of development for the Grand Rapids Symphony, which gave me excellent insight into the philanthropic culture of West Michigan. Combining those experiences and skill sets will empower me to expand on the success the Holland Symphony has enjoyed over the past three decades and make community connection, relevancy, and accessibility a main focus.
TL: What drew you to HSO and excites you most about leading the organization?
MN: The quality of place in West Michigan is certainly attractive, but the opportunity to work with a proactive board, dedicated staff, and a music director like Johannes Müller Stosch, and play a big part in a growing orchestra that has sounded better and better every year is an offer you can't refuse.
TL: What do you love most about symphonies, and how do you see them evolving in the coming years?
MN: The reward I enjoy most about working for a symphony orchestra is being witness to how live music and music education can change lives. Watching the faces of the audience members as the glorious music washes over them and all their worries, angst, and stress dissipate ... and up bubbles humanity, emotion, connection, etc. As for the future of orchestras, we have a big challenge ahead of us.
Audiences are aging out and not being replaced as fast as they are being lost. Music is less and less of a priority in schools, which causes a wave of disinterest and unawareness of the transformative power of music. Fewer parents are bringing their children and grandchildren to hear live orchestral music, so our job is to put it back into the schools and make it a priority again. Everyone needs to be an ambassador of live music. It is the unspoken language of us all, and has the power to make the world a better place.
TL: What are your main goals for HSO, and how do you plan to achieve them?
MN: We need to perform in the community, reach into different neighborhoods, play in different venues, and not expect people to always come to us. We will bring our music to the people. We will break down the barriers between artists and audience members and become more relevant in our community. Coming to a classical and pops orchestra concert will become cool again!
TL: What might people be surprised to learn about the symphony, whether related to the musicians, the organization, or the art form itself?
MN: We are a community-supported and operated orchestra, so those amazing musicians you see and hear on the stage are your neighbors, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and friends. We are Holland. We are West Michigan.
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