Jonathan Bishop New VP at Music Academy of The West

Jonathan Bishop, an accomplished fundraising and marketing professional who has helped implement a series of highly successful philanthropic outreach initiatives at the Music Academy of the West, has been named vice president for institutional advancement at the renowned classical music institution. He succeeds Scott Reed, who was named president of the Music Academy in July. Mr. Bishop’s appointment was effective November 1.

Mr. Bishop, who had been serving as director of principal gifts at the Music Academy since 2005, was selected from among 20 applicants following a two-month nationwide search. As vice president for institutional advancement, he will oversee all efforts associated with Music Academy fundraising, including annual fund, capital campaign, and endowment giving programs, and planned giving memberships. He will manage a staff of four and serve as a member of the Academy’s senior management team. Over the last four years, despite difficult economic headwinds and waning support for arts organizations nationwide, the Music Academy institutional advancement department has seen annual fund contributions increase by 32 percent and raised in excess of $25 million in support of capital and endowment projects on campus.

“Jon has been a significant contributor to the Music Academy’s achievements in annual fund giving, our facility upgrade campaigns, and most notably the planned giving program. I am pleased to announce this appointment and look forward to working closely with Jon to build on our recent fundraising successes,” said Mr. Reed.

Born in San Diego, Mr. Bishop grew up in Goleta and attended Dos Pueblos High School and Santa Barbara City College before earning a bachelor’s degree in communication at Cal State Fullerton. He previously served as a marketing representative and account executive at Goleta-based Market Place Media (since acquired by Alloy Media + Marketing) for four years before joining the Music Academy institutional advancement team as a prospect researcher and project manager for the Renaissance Campaign, a campus capital improvement initiative, in March 2002.

“I am very excited to be joining the Academy’s senior management team and relish the opportunity to continue working with the Academy’s committed and enthusiastic community of supporters,” said Mr. Bishop.

Founded in 1947, the Music Academy of the West is among the nation’s preeminent summer schools and festivals for gifted young classical musicians. The Academy provides these promising musicians with the opportunity for advanced study and frequent performance under the guidance of internationally renowned faculty artists, guest conductors, and soloists. Admission to the Academy is strictly merit based, and Fellows receive full scholarships (tuition, room, and board).

Academy alumni are members of major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, ensembles, opera companies, and university and conservatory faculties throughout the world. Many enjoy careers as prominent solo artists. Based in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West presents more than 200 public events annually, including performances by faculty, visiting artists, and Fellows; masterclasses; orchestra and chamber music concerts; and fully staged opera. The Music Academy began broadcasting live simulcasts by the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera at Hahn Hall in October 2008.