Maryland Symphony Orchestra Lecture and Discussion: Fundraising and Marketing in the Professional Music World

Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center, Pealer Recital Hall

Maryland Symphony Orchestra Director of Development Jennifer-Joy Sutton and Michael Harp, MSO Director of Marketing & Public Relations, lead an in-depth session to discuss fundraising and marketing in the professional arts world.

Jennifer-Joy Sutton is the Director of Development at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra where she devises income-generating initiatives, with a focus on planned gifts, to sustain and advance a multimillion-dollar annual budget. With two decades of experience in the nonprofit arena, she is a dynamic and innovative leader with a proven track record of implementing strategic vision in collaboration with professional and volunteer leadership. She has been a featured speaker at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and taught at the University of Houston in areas of nonprofit development, social media and cybersecurity.

Driving organizational growth and success, Jennifer builds institutional strength and drives the growth of the MSO and its endowment. She creates highly effective fundraising campaigns as well as planned-giving programs by cultivating donors and devising compelling cases for support that share MSO’s story across various platforms.

Jennifer holds a Juris Doctor in Law & Economics from Syracuse University College of Law and is a graduate of the University of Miami Herbert Business School.

Michael Harp serves as the director of Marketing & Public Relations for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. With over a decade of experience at MSO, he has demonstrated leadership in marketing, patron services, box office operations and the implementation of innovative digital solutions. Michael is MSO’s resident digital and print publication designer, oversees front-of-house operations and experiences, and spearheads strategies to cultivate new audiences and enhance the orchestra’s community engagement footprint. He previously worked for Walt Disney Theatrical Productions at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York and has served in various roles within local, regional and collegiate performing arts organizations.

Michael holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and previously served as director of Admissions for Penn State University, where he recruited students nationwide and increased campus enrollments. His approach to customer service and audience development is shaped by his commitment to exceeding patron expectations and creating memorable experiences, honed through his unique experiences with Disney and his broad background in hospitality, finance, higher education, and the arts.

Music, Workshops/Classes, Seminars/Workshops, Cultural Events Series, CES