The Janklow Arts Leadership Program in the College of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with the Skaneateles Festival hosted a think tank with music festival and cultural leaders on Friday, April 29, at the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles, N.Y.

The think tank was organized as a roundtable discussion with individuals chosen for their varied locations, professional experience and sector expertise, with music as a unifying base. Participants included leaders from an international opera festival to one of the largest performing art centers in New York State, to a boutique class chamber music festivals.

The roundtable discussion focused on cultural and seasonal tourism, shifting demographics and the changes surrounding the music festival landscape.

“It is so rare that we are able to sit down and think deeply with our contemporaries about issues relating to our business. This roundtable discussion served as an opportunity to open up a dialogue for learning and collaboration across our industry,” says Jessica Danial, Skaneateles Festival board member and Janklow Program student.

Participants included Marcia White, president and executive director of Saratoga Performing Arts Center; Linda Chesis, artistic director of Cooperstown Summer Music Festival; Alexander Lombard, founder president and CEO of Lake George Music Festival; Christopher Powell, director of administration and community engagement of the Glimmerglass Festival; Debra Bell, marketing director of the Glimmerglass Festival; Susan Mark, executive director of the Skaneateles Festival; Brian Mitchell, managing director of Kingston Chamber Music Festival; and Maria Todaro, executive director of Phoenicia International Festival of The Voice.

The roundtable discussion was facilitated by Mark Nerenhausen who serves as both founding director and professor of practice of the Janklow Arts Leadership Program. He has more than two decades of professional arts administration experience.

Jessica Danial, Skaneateles Festival board member, organized the event after observing the need for cross collaboration between national music festivals. Danial also serves on the board of trustees for the Everson Museum in Syracuse and is completing her master’s degree work in the Janklow Arts Leadership Administration program.

The Janklow Program focuses on leadership in the creative and performing arts. The Janklow Program operates at the intersection of arts administration and social entrepreneurship by combining interdisciplinary coursework with professional mentorships, competitive internships and unique immersion opportunities.

The Skaneateles Festival is one of the most premier summer music festivals in upstate New York set in the Finger Lakes region. The Skaneateles community-inspired music festival is recognized for its creative and dynamic concert programming, education and outreach.