Ryan Fleur Becomes New President & CEO of Philadelphia Orchestra

Ryan Fleur was named president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts on Wednesday. He has been part of the organization since 2012 and was acting president since January, after Matias Tarnopolsky moved to the New York Philharmonic.

Fleur wants to make sure more people attend concerts, with around 20% of seats still empty. He also aims to welcome community and school groups to the orchestra’s venues. “I want every school student in Philadelphia to visit us at least three times while they’re growing up, whether it’s for a concert, open practice, or our jazz program that connects jazz music to the civil rights movement,” he shared.

At 53, Fleur previously led the Memphis Symphony Orchestra from 2003 to 2012, before becoming the Philadelphia orchestra’s executive director for advancements. He stepped in as interim president in 2018 before Tarnopolsky joined. Fleur has been Philadelphia’s executive director since 2021, the same year the orchestra joined with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it is now based. Last year, they rebranded as Ensemble Arts Philly.

For the 2023-24 season, the orchestra’s revenue was $132.6 million. The money came from ticket sales (38%), other activities like parking and rentals (24%), and donations (38%). The seating capacity improved to 76% this past season, up from 69% the year before, and looks to hit 77% this year. “We’re seeing more people attending now than we did before the pandemic,” Fleur noted. “We have many single-ticket buyers, not just subscribers. The merger helps us reach a bigger audience by promoting various events. People who enjoy Broadway also like classical and jazz performances.”

The orchestra’s contract with Local 77 of the American Federation of Musicians will expire in September 2026.