Soraya leadership transition to follow 15th Anniversary

The 2024-25 Season was our best yet by many measures, and the upcoming season, my 12th, already shows great promise. In this quiet moment in between, as The Soraya team exhales for a few weeks, I will take this moment to share a few reflections and some news.

The Soraya was built on the vision of former CSUN President Jolene Koester and a committed community of arts supporters and public leaders. In 2017 the Nazarians invested generously in this vision, securing a future for our vast array of performances – from the jazz festival to world-class orchestras, collaborations with local artists to the 40+ nations represented onstage, educational activities to Spanish-language programs. If the San Fernando Valley were a city, it would be our nation’s 5th largest. Therefore, it goes without saying that the Valley deserves a performing arts center of the highest caliber.  

The Soraya staff has been tireless in building that best-in-class organization. Many of them have shared this journey for more than a decade, and in some cases, were ushers or backstage workers who have grown into organizational leaders. Together we have given our all to The Soraya, undaunted by the degree-of-difficulty. Regardless, the rewards were greater than the sacrifices.

At over 500 performances I witnessed the power of the performing arts – lives transforming in small but indelible ways, communities strengthening, students awakening to the value of live music and dance, and countless families attending in multiple generations.

The Soraya has become, in the eyes of some, my lifetime’s work. But my shoulders are not the only shoulders, nor are they big enough. It’s time that responsibility be redistributed more broadly. Following The Soraya’s 15th Anniversary, I will transition from my role to take advantage of the benefits conferred by retiring from the state of California. I’m not stopping, but rather am pivoting to new opportunities. I will also offer my assistance to ensure the best possible future for The Soraya.

Meanwhile, I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity I have been given. In addition to my Soraya and CSUN colleagues, my gratitude extends to the many artists who shared their creativity here, to Milt and Debbie Valera, the Soraya Ambassadors and Directors Circle, and to the Nazarian family for their generosity and unwavering belief in everything we do. It was they who transformed an outstanding venue into the gem of the Valley, making possible the original vision of Jolene Koester and her many partners fifteen years ago. To all of them, we owe our gratitude.

I could fill a book with stories from The Soraya lobby following performances and the many personal expressions of joy and awe I witnessed there. And yet, when someone comes for the first time, I still relish watching them experience The Soraya’s successive surprises – first walking into the lobby, then the auditorium, and then finally when the lights dim as the performance begins. When I first visited the Great Hall in 2013, I imagined this singular goal – that the venue and its programs unfailingly exceed expectations, again and again. In fact, that is precisely what defines us most, now and always.

Please join us this fall and winter to celebrate The Soraya’s 15^th anniversary, and to help us pivot to The Soraya’s next chapter.

Gratefully,