By Eric Dundon
Alex Shapiro grew up in a household of music. His father played clarinet and baritone horn, his mother played double bass, and his brother played cello. He played the French horn through college.
Now, that music background serves him well as the SLSO's new Chief Philanthropy Officer.
Shapiro, who started at the SLSO on February 26, comes to the SLSO from the Kansas City Symphony, where he served as Vice President of Philanthropy for seven years.
“I am both honored and excited to be joining the SLSO team," he said. "I’m passionate about music—symphonic music in particular—so this is an extraordinary opportunity for me to both support and work with such a talented group of musicians, staff, and board volunteers.”
Not only is Shapiro passionate about music, he is an advocate for the arts in general and has held many positions at arts institutions around the country.
Prior to his position in Kansas City, he served as the Director of Institutional Advancement at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and Executive Director of the IAIA Foundation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The arts have been an important thread throughout his career, including Executive Director of Santa Fe Pro Musica, Executive Director of DANCECleveland, and Director of Development with the San Francisco Museum of Performance + Design.
“I am delighted to welcome Alex Shapiro to the SLSO, said Marie-Hélène Bernard, SLSO President and CEO. "He joins the SLSO at a pivotal time as we position the institution for growth with the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall. His passion for the arts aligns with the SLSO’s mission to enrich lives through the power of music.”
In his role, Shapiro will oversee a team of 16 toward $10 million in annual giving, efforts to complete the capital campaign for renovation and expansion of Powell Hall, and support ongoing efforts to build the endowment fund through legacy and planned gifts.
Eric Dundon is the SLSO's Public Relations Director.