Podcast appearances and mentions of jeff melanson

Ever feel like the rug is slipping out from underneath you? Like the job you used to know how to do has turned into something you're not sure you're even qualified for anymore? Most of us need some sort of professional development to stay competitive and effective in our careers. But what if that sort of training isn't offered at your job? In this episode of Work Therapy with Dr. Steven Stein, we chat with Jeff Melanson, a Canadian business executive who has worked for more than 15 years in the fine arts community and public sector in some of Canada's most noteworthy cities. Jeff is committed to using his vast creative entrepreneurship expertise to help build stronger, more vibrant communities across the country and around the world.Jeff shares his philosophy on how to find more security in any job by understanding how you add value as an individual.Have feedback about this episode or want to learn more about reskilling and upskilling? Get in touch with MHS

Brian speaks with Jeff Melanson. Jeff is one of the most prominent executives in the Canadian arts and culture community, is lauded internationally for his inventive approach to leadership, his bold strategies, and his practical vision. Prior to joining Stratagem, Jeff was President and CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, President of The Banff Centre, Dean of The Royal Conservatory of Music's Community School in Toronto, and Executive Director of Canada's National Ballet School. He is a globally sought-after voice on disruptive innovation, creative economies, and creative entrepreneurship. Jeff talks tonight about Chat GPT and Creativity.

When it came to Canadian arts administration, Jeff Melanson was the king. Until his messy annulment papers from frozen food heiress Eleanor McCain alleged that he left more than just administrative damage in his wake from the Canadian Ballet Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Banff Centre for the Arts. Anne Kingston dives deep into the hushed world of Canadian arts institutions.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Melanson was the Canadian arts & culture institution's golden boy, dubbed a "rock star arts administrator," feted by the press, and offered prestigious positions at Canada's top art institutions. Until he made a royal mess during his truncated presidency at the Banff Centre. How was he allowed to get away with it for so long, and why was he rewarded for failing so hard? David Silcox was the Globe & Mail's art critic, president of Sotheby's Canada, Arts Officer of the Canada Council, and author of several books about Canadian art.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TSO President and CEO Jeff Melanson speaks with Peter Oundjian from Naples on a tour of Florida. Plus, Rob Kapilow on Mozart Symphony 40 and what makes it great.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's decision to drop its piano soloist Valentina Lisitsa this week because of her Twitter comments about Ukrainians and other ethnic groups raises a crucial point: orchestras and arts organizations find themselves walking a fine line with protecting their brand when they engage an artist with controversial views. In this episode, Washington Post classical music critic Anne Midgette argues that the Toronto Symphony handled the Lisitsa situation poorly by not presenting its case properly to the public. "The orchestra decorously cited distasteful Tweets and Lisitsa, who is a very savvy social media person, went on the warpath and said 'free speech,'" Midgette said. "Because the Toronto Symphony didn't come out and cite the Tweets they were talking about – and because Lisitsa was able to marshal opinion on her side – this has developed into a kind of cause celebre and people are jumping to conclusions based on inadequate information." Peter Himler, a P.R. strategist who advises clients on crisis management, agrees that the TSO didn't get out ahead of the story. "There is not one Tweet from them bringing up this issue," he said. "I think they should be up front and continually communicating their point of view. That's one of the rules of thumb in crisis communication." [Listen to WQXR's interview with TSO president Jeff Melanson.] Himler believes that many of Lisitsa's social media supporters may in fact be paid trolls who operate on behalf of the Russian government. "Vladimir Putin has people that go out and bolster the posts that are in his court," he noted. Both Himler and Midgette agree that artists should be free to speak their minds, but orchestras should realize that guest soloists become the temporary representative of the symphony. "Your soloist is certainly your face that week in terms of marketing," said Midgette. "You are hiring somebody as an ambassador with the assumption that your organization is aligned with what they represent." Hear our guests' examples of successful crisis management in the full segment at the top of this page, and tell us what you think in the comments below.

Toronto Symphony president Jeff Melanson tells WQXR's Conducting Business that pianist Valentina Lisitsa's politics had nothing to do with the orchestra's decision to drop her from its program this week. "The concerns raised were not about a political perspective but were about directly offensive and intolerant comments directed at other human beings," he told host Naomi Lewin. Melanson disputed Lisitsa's contention that the orchestra had made the decision in December after a donor threatened to withhold funds if she performed as scheduled. The orchestra produced a seven-page list of the Twitter commentary it found most offensive and sent it to ask if the posts were made by her, or by a proxy. "A week-and-a-half ago she confirmed that these were her words and we had to make a decision," he said. Melanson continued that "a contract provision allows us to pay an artist her fee and remove them from the program. We tried to do it in a way that was protective of the artist, in terms of not publicly discussing any of this, and of course she's chosen to turn the story into one for the Twitter-verse." Lisitsa is an ethnic Russian who was born in Ukraine. Through her active Twitter account, she has been highly critical of the Kiev government, comparing its leaders to Nazis and dog feces. In one frequently-cited Tweet, she juxtaposed a photo of contemporary Ukrainian teachers wearing traditional embroidered shirts with a photo of black costumed dancers. The pianist has not responded to multiple requests by WQXR for comment on the Tweets, but she told the CBC that the Tweets were "satirical" and "there is a great space for exaggeration and hyperbole." Melanson said the Toronto Symphony does not habitually screen artists' social media before it offers them work, nor does take a side on political matters. "We are not taking a side here between Russia and the Ukraine," he noted. The orchestra president also implied that the decision to cancel the replacement soloist, Stewart Goodyear, was made out of concern for the musicians' safety. "We could not put an orchestra, an artist and a guest artist up on stage in the context of this week's discussions," he said. For more on how Melanson said the TSO's decisions were made, and who blew the whistle, listen to the full interview at the top of this page.

What makes our cultural institutions thrive, what new challenges do they face, and how can we best support them? Arts administrator, Jeff Melanson, explores The Evolving Role of the Arts in Canada. His lecture was produced in collaboration with the Literary Review of Canada and was recorded at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto on May 24, 2011

Jeff Melanson on The Evolving Role of the Arts in Canada. This lecture was produced in collaboration with the Literary Review of Canada and was recorded at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto on May 24, 2011.