Blending a deep love of classical music with a passion for business, Peter Kjome is recognized as a thoughtful leader who engages key stakeholders to achieve artistic and economic success. He became President and CEO of The Phoenix Symphony on February 1, 2023.
Kjome brings a multi-faceted background with experience in the nonprofit and private sectors to his new role in Phoenix. Previously, he served as President and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, one of the nation’s leading orchestras. He has also held the top post at the Grand Rapids Symphony and was a professional oboist earlier in his career.
Under his leadership, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra made substantial progress to support artistic growth, innovation, and expansion of the organization’s diverse family of audience members and donors. A highlight of Kjome’s tenure was reestablishing international touring after a 13-year absence, including the BSO’s debuts at the BBC Proms and Edinburgh International Festival under the baton of Music Director Marin Alsop.
The Orchestra secured $10 million in multi-year commitments to a Transformation Fund in support of the strategic plan developed during Kjome’s time as CEO. In 2020, the BSO announced commitments of $48 million to the organization’s Resounding Campaign. . An important achievement was the BSO’s historic collective bargaining agreement with its musicians, the first five-year contract in two decades. The organization’s dynamic response to the pandemic included launching the virtual platform BSO OffStage to provide innovative digital programming.
Prior to his BSO appointment, Kjome served as President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Symphony, where he championed significant advancements of the Symphony’s artistic and education programs while strengthening its financial position. The GRS completed a $40 million endowment campaign and reached several agreements with its musicians, including a five-year contract in 2016. Kjome was integral to the selection of Marcelo Lehninger as Music Director and Robert Bernhardt as Principal Pops Conductor.
Kjome’s management and financial skills were enhanced while working at 3M Company, a leading global company based in St. Paul, Minnesota. At 3M, he served in positions of increasing responsibility in the consumer business, including roles in strategic planning, marketing, and the company’s Six Sigma program.
Earlier in his career, Kjome was an oboist in the Grand Rapids Symphony, including six years as principal oboist. He also performed as an extra musician with The Cleveland Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. While in the GRS, he served for two years as a musician representative on the orchestra’s board of directors.
Kjome received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is an alumnus of the Cleveland Institute of Music. At Kellogg, he received the Maurice L. Rothschild Scholarship in recognition of academic achievement and commitment to social enterprise.
Active personally and professionally, Kjome serves on the board of trustees of the Cleveland Institute of Music and is Co-Chair of its academic affairs committee. His past service includes the boards of Maryland Citizens for the Arts, Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and Economic Club of Grand Rapids. Kjome is a past Chair of the Group 2 orchestras of the League of American Orchestras, and he is a recipient of the League’s Helen M. Thompson award for leadership.
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