The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia

Broadcast Pioneers member Ryan Fleur is currently executive vice president for orchestra advancement for The Philadelphia Orchestra, responsible for the day-to-day operations and marketing of the Orchestra, TicketPhiladelphia, Information Technology Services, Human Resources, and the organization’s long-term planning efforts.

Prior to moving to Philadelphia, Ryan was president and CEO of the Memphis Symphony, an organization offering more than 250 performances and events annually. The Symphony is viewed by the community as a key artistic and civic asset. He took the helm of the Memphis Symphony in 2003 and led a comprehensive strategic planning process that focused on artistic excellence, education, and community engagement. The process has transformed the $5-million ensemble from an organization in the business of making great music to an organization that serves its community through great music. This transformation has been profiled in Symphony magazine, in a case study called “Fearless Journeys: Innovation in American Orchestras” (published by the League of American Orchestras), and on Polyphonic.org.

With Fleur’s leadership, the Memphis Symphony saw significant increases in the donor base, contributed income, earned revenue, and overall fiscal stability. He guided the design of a new organizational approach, in which musician-led initiatives guide ground-breaking partnership work with local corporations, non-profits, and centers for learning. This work has been recognized and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Rising star Mei-Ann Chen was appointed music director in 2010.

Ryan Fleur was trained as a pianist. He has a BA from Boston University where he studied economics, business, and finance. He served as program director and pianist for the Boston Ballet before being selected to participate in the Orchestra Management Fellowship Program of the League of American Orchestras. As a fellow for the 1996-97 season, he worked with the San Francisco Symphony, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Indianapolis Symphony. The following year, he served as executive assistant to the managing director of the New York Philharmonic.

In 1998 Fleur was appointed executive director of the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, one of four professional cooperative orchestras in the United States. He led the Orchestra through an international conductor search, an extensive planning process, and a revitalization of the governing board, while establishing strong programs in education and community engagement. He left Boston in 2003 to become chief executive of the Memphis Symphony.

Ryan Fleur and his wife, Laura Banchero, a professional ballet instructor and former dancer, have two children, Robert and Anna.

The e-mail address of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia is pioneers@broadcastpioneers.com