THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS OF TWO LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS TO LEAD LONG-TERM GROWTH
CHERONNE WONG PROMOTED TO CFO & BENAROYA HALL COO
MARIA KANAKIS YANG PROMOTED TO CHIEF DEVELOPMENT & PROJECT OFFICER
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Symphony announces the promotions of two members of its senior leadership team: Cheronne Wong, CFO & Benaroya Hall COO, and Maria Kanakis Yang, Chief Development & Project Officer. Wong and Yang’s new appointments will work closely together, overseeing new projects and operations related to the long-term growth of the Symphony and Benaroya Hall.
Cheronne Wong joined the Symphony in 2018 as the Chief Financial Officer, after working in accounting and finance for over 20 years. Wong is known for her strong creative problem-solving and technical skills; during the pandemic, she guided the Symphony and Benaroya Hall through the extensive and time-sensitive federal aid process with great success. Wong’s leadership during the pandemic resulted in $20 million in federal aid and was essential in allowing the Symphony and Benaroya Hall to continue operating and the musicians to remain employed. In Wong’s new role as CFO & Benaroya Hall COO, she will remain the CFO for the Symphony and Benaroya Hall while assuming more oversight of all operations at Benaroya Hall. Not only has Benaroya Hall housed the Seattle Symphony since it was built 24 years ago, but it also serves as a cultural events hub in Seattle with its convenient location in the heart of downtown, and presents many community, cultural and arts performances year-round. As COO of Benaroya Hall, Wong will also oversee its partnership with the City of Seattle and work towards revitalizing downtown and welcoming more of the community than ever to the Hall to take part in its many offerings, including but not limited to Symphony performances.
Maria Kanakis Yang joined the Seattle Symphony as the Vice President of Development in 2019 and quickly distinguished herself as an asset to the leadership team and the Symphony’s long-term success. Over her first three years at the Symphony, Yang led efforts that resulted in a 23 percent increase in annual fundraising, securing the largest endowment contribution in six years and the largest gift to the Symphony’s annual operations in the organization’s history. Like Wong, she has been a critical partner in the Symphony’s survival and recovery throughout the pandemic. In addition to her leadership in fundraising, Yang was essential in the Symphony and Benaroya Hall’s strategic planning process, guiding the organizations through the development and establishment of a five-year plan, which positions the organizations for a strong future. As Chief Development and Project Officer, she will lead the implementation efforts of the strategic plan, as well as continue to oversee the Symphony’s Development department.
Wong and Yang sit alongside six other members of the Seattle Symphony senior leadership team: Krishna Thiagarajan, President and CEO; Jennifer Adair, Vice President & General Manager; Raff Wilson, Vice President of Artistic Planning; Christy Wood, Vice President of Marketing & Communications; Paul Johnson, Director of People & Culture; and Josh Springer, Director of Digital Programs.
“Cheronne Wong and Maria Kanakis Yang have been exceptional leaders during their time with the Seattle Symphony. They stepped up in monumental ways these last few years, and their partnership has helped see the Symphony through many unexpected challenges,” said President & CEO Krishna Thiagarajan. “In their new roles, Cheronne and Maria will be instrumental in helping the Symphony fulfill its long-term strategic goals. We deeply appreciate their dedication in guiding our shared vision for the future of the Symphony, and we all look forward to working closely together as a team to strengthen the Symphony and increase the public’s use of Benaroya Hall through a bold vision of inspiring performances and groundbreaking international collaborations.”
CHERONNE WONG | CFO & BENAROYA HALL COO
Cheronne Wong is the CFO & Benaroya Hall COO and oversees the financial management of the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Symphony Foundation and Benaroya Hall. Prior to her start at the Seattle Symphony in November 2018, she was the Chief Financial Officer of The Garrigan Lyman Group, a digital marketing and design agency in Seattle. For over 20 years, she held accounting and finance positions of increasing responsibility in Seattle in the design and tech fields, as well as arts administration positions in New York. Known for creative problem-solving paired with strong technical skills, she is passionate about her role as a leader in a mission-oriented organization and guiding all three organizations through the post-pandemic recovery.
Parallel to her earlier career in finance, Cheronne was a modern dance choreographer, producer and artist both in Seattle and New York. Originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Cheronne holds a BBA degree in Accounting from College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and an MFA in Performance from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She was previously a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the Washington chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI).
MARIA KANAKIS YANG | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT & PROJECT OFFICER
Maria Kanakis Yang joined the Seattle Symphony as Vice President of Development in 2019 and leads fundraising for the Symphony, Benaroya Hall and Seattle Symphony Foundation for combined annual fundraising of nearly $18 million. During her tenure, she successfully led fundraising efforts through the pandemic, resulting in a 23 percent increase in annual fundraising for the Symphony, in addition to securing the largest non-campaign gift in the Symphony‘s history. Most recently, she has been instrumental in development and oversight of the strategic planning process.
Prior to the Symphony, Yang held a wide range of arts-dedicated fundraising roles. Most recently, she was Director of Advancement at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, part of the Smithsonian Institution. At the Hirshhorn, Yang led a national and global fundraising initiative, increasing both awareness and involvement in the museum beyond its Washington, D.C. home. Yang spearheaded these fundraising efforts at their greatest capacity in New York City, leading the organization’s most successful annual fundraising event and International Council program for three years with an annual fundraising total of over $6 million.
Prior to her position at the Hirshhorn, Yang was Director of Strategic Initiatives at Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, where she worked cross-departmentally to revitalize and streamline organization-wide initiatives and establish cohesive strategies within fundraising and marketing. Yang’s efforts resulted in tremendous growth for the orchestra in terms of support, visibility, audience and awareness. Yang also previously led the membership program at the New York Philharmonic, where she established new methods of outreach and cultivation for both the orchestra’s dedicated supporters as well as their newer and younger audiences. Yang received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Violin Performance. She also received a secondary degree in Graphic Design from the Parsons School of Design and certification in Management Studies for Marketing from the University of Rochester.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony Live streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.
BENAROYA HALL
Benaroya Hall is home of Seattle Symphony and houses three performance spaces in a complex that is thoroughly integrated into downtown Seattle, occupying an entire block at 200 University Street between Second and Third avenues. At the very core of the city, the Hall celebrates the vital role of performance events while maintaining the continuity of commercial life along one avenue and providing a much-needed public space, in the form of a terraced garden, along another. Benaroya Hall is easily accessible by public transportation and sits atop a large parking garage, accessible from Second Avenue.
Krishna Thiagarajan’s position is generously underwritten as the Leslie Jackson Chihuly President & CEO.
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