Director of Artistic Operations

Position Opening: Director of Artistic Operations

Full-time, Exempt

Position Overview:

December 2025

GRAMMY™-winning chamber orchestra Apollo’s Fire (AF) seeks a Director of Artistic Operations (DAO) to lead the concert and tour operations of an innovative ensemble performing at the international level. The 34-year-old organization is based in Cleveland, with a satellite series and auxiliary Board in Chicago, and a strong worldwide presence through touring and recording.

This is a senior, full-time position reporting to the Managing Director (MD) and Artistic Director (AD). The DAO is responsible for the implementation of all Apollo’s Fire performances and tours, including the Northeast Ohio concert series, Chicago concert series, national and international touring, regional hired engagements, and educational and community engagement activities. As a key senior staff member, the DAO is expected to work with a high degree of independence while collaborating closely with the Artistic Director to advance the ensemble’s artistic vision. The DAO is also expected to work in consultation with the Managing Director to ensure the effective implementation of strategic and sound business management practices.

As a period-instrument orchestra, Apollo’s Fire has a project-based operational model, with most musicians coming from out of town for each project. The DAO serves as the key point-person for coordinating each project (approximately 7-9 projects per year), balancing long-term season planning with proactive, real-time support for current projects and performances. The DAO supervises the artistic operations and production support staff and works closely with AF’s musicians. They also collaborate with the Board of Directors, cross-departmental administrative staff, artist managers, presenters, and vendors.

Responsibilities include:

Artistic Administration

• Musicians: Serve as the primary administrative liaison to AF’s musicians and guest artists; book and contract musicians for each project in consultation with the AD; prepare the Musicians’ payroll for each project; and, in collaboration with Musician Representatives, AD, and MD, manage the review and revision of the Musician General Terms and Payscale—the ensemble’s central framework for artist terms, conditions, and compensation.

• International Artists: Manage international artist visa application processes (O or P nonimmigrant visas), as needed – typically 1-2 per year.

• Budgeting: Working in collaboration with the AD and MD, prepare the Project Budgets (concert and tour budgets) to be included in the organization’s annual budget; manage and monitor concert expenses; and prepare budget-vs-actual Project Reports for presentation at Board meetings.

• Venues: Build and manage relationships with concert and rehearsal venues in Northeast Ohio and Greater Chicago, including management of event dates and rental contracts.

• Artistic Materials: Coordinate preparation of program materials for playbills and other related print content, in collaboration with the Artistic Director, artistic and marketing staff, and presenters.

Operations & Production

• With assistance from operations support staff, oversee all logistical and operational needs for rehearsals and performances, ensuring a high standard of artist care:

o Book rehearsal and performance venues; oversee on-site support;

o Supervise musician travel and hospitality arrangements, including ground transportation in Cleveland and on tour, ensuring accurate and timely communication of all logistics; and

o Oversee stage management and production logistics, including compliance with all venue policies, payment of stage crew, and equipment purchase or rental.

• The DAO’s presence is required at approximately 75% of AF’s performances across Northeast Ohio and occasionally in Chicago, with some rotation allowed. All members of AF’s small administrative team are cross trained and participate in some aspects of front-of-house management.

Touring

• In consultation with AF’s tour agents and the organization’s AD and MD, prepare tour fee quotes on a timely basis; analyze the financial viability of touring engagements; strategize to plan viable tours; create presenter contracts; and track tour expenses and income.

• Serve as AF’s booking representative for local and regional engagements, managing inquiries, negotiations, contracts, and fee tracking.

• With support from operations staff, manage all tour travel and logistics, including liaising with travel agents for international arrangements.

• The DAO may occasionally travel on tour, but this is not a regular expectation.

Education, Community Engagement, and Partnerships

• With staff support, oversee and implement AF’s in-school workshops, Family Concerts, and Bistro Concerts, in alignment with funding requirements.

• Build and maintain relationships with local partners, such as museums, schools, and restaurants, to ensure successful educational and community engagement efforts.

• In consultation with the AD and artistic staff, hire musicians for educational activities and manage payroll for these programs, including the “SIDE BY SIDE” strings program in Matteson School District 162 (Chicago southside suburb).

• Contribute as a key member of the fundraising team by:

o Providing grant proposal and reporting elements such as program descriptions, project budgets, and artist information; and

o Collaborating with Development staff, Board members, individual donors, and volunteers to identify opportunities for sponsorships, stewardship, and special events.

Qualifications:

• A degree in classical music, Master’s degree preferred;

• An orchestral background, or experience managing an orchestral ensemble, is strongly preferred;

• 5+ years of demonstrated professional excellence in arts management, with experience managing a touring ensemble preferred;

• Ability to manage competing priorities and thrive in a fast-paced, creativity-driven performing arts organization;

• A passion for the performing arts;

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills;

• Strong business acumen, including financial management fundamentals and performing arts budgeting and expense tracking (Excel);

• High attention to detail and commitment to professionalism;

• Experience working with donors and/or on grant-funded projects is an asset; and

• A car, valid driver’s license, and ability to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings and weekends.

Compensation and Benefits:

The starting annual salary for this position is $82,000.

Director-level positions are offered three weeks of paid vacation per year, consisting of the week between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day - when the office is closed - and 10 business days of the employee's choice. Vacation should normally not be taken during AF's concert weeks. In addition, AF has 9 company-recognized holidays.

Comp time is also offered following all worked performances.

Apollo’s Fire offers a generous benefits package including medical insurance, employer-paid Health Savings Account, optional employee-paid dental insurance and optional participation in 401K/403B program.

About Apollo’s Fire:

GRAMMY-winning ensemble Apollo’s Fire is one of the world’s leading period-instrument baroque orchestras. Known for adventurous programming under the creative leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jeannette Sorrell, and administrative leadership of Managing Director David Walker, the
ensemble enjoys a large audience, with 23,000 tickets sold and 34 sold-out concerts in Cleveland and Chicago in the 2024-25 season alone.

Apollo’s Fire engages musicians on a project basis, curating each program’s roster according to the repertoire and artistic vision. Depending on the thematic and musical requirements, the ensemble may take the form of an intimate chamber group of 6–8 players or expand to a full orchestral and choral complement of more than 70 artists. Roughly one third of the performers reside in Northeast Ohio with the remainder traveling in for projects. The coordination of travel, housing, scheduling, and related costs is a central and essential component of the ensemble’s artistic administration.

IN CLEVELAND: Apollo’s Fire is in its 34th season, having built in Northeast Ohio one of the nation’s three largest audiences for baroque music. AF performs approximately 40 concerts annually (6-7 artistic programs, with 4-5 performances of each program in multiple venues). Since 2017, AF has brought in thousands of new attendees through its innovative Community Access Initiative (CAI), including casual Baroque Bistro concerts in popular restaurants, free Family Concerts, and free school workshops. The MOSAIC Project, launched in 2020, nurtures talented young musicians of color, seeking to create a more diverse classical music field.

IN CHICAGO: Apollo’s Fire’s Chicago Series is in its 5th season, with 9-12 subscription performances (5 artistic programs, with 2-3 performances of each program, in multiple venues). AF’s extensive SIDE-BY-SIDE string education program in the southside Chicago suburb of Matteson is also in its 5th year, and won a prestigious Challenge America grant from the NEA.

WORLDWIDE: Apollo’s Fire is one of North America’s most prominent touring chamber orchestras, performing at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the BBC Proms (London), the Royal Theatre of Madrid, London’s St. Martin-in-the Fields, the Tanglewood and Ravinia festivals, the Boston Early Music Festival series, the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), and many others. Prominent tour engagements in 2026 include a return to Carnegie Hall, a London residency, and concerts in Paris, Brussels, Lisbon, and Germany.

AF has a significant and growing YouTube presence (over 22 million views), and 34 commercial albums of which 13 have been Billboard Classical best-sellers. AF’s 2024 album Bach’s Coffeehouse debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Classical chart.

NUTS & BOLTS: Apollo’s Fire has an annual budget of $3.2 million, a Cleveland-based Board of 26, a Chicago auxiliary Board of 17, and a team of approximately 9 full-time and 7 part-time employees. The organization’s offices are located in the historic Rockefeller Building in Cleveland Heights, with 2 additional Chicago-based staff members working remotely. The organization maintains a strong financial position, operating debt-free with a strong cash reserve. For more information, see www.apollosfire.org.

Apollo’s Fire is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment, an equitable organization, and a diverse music community.

TO APPLY:
Please send resumé and cover letter to search@apollosfire.org.

DEADLINE:

Open until filled.