Allison Beth Vulgamore (born 1950s) is an American orchestra executive, known especially for her tenure with the

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The ASO's main concert venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center. History Though earlier organizations bearing the same name date b ...

. Vulgamore is the daughter of Melvin L. Vulgamore, 13th president of Albion College. She received a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in music from the

Oberlin College Conservatory of Music The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is a private music conservatory in Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. It was founded in 1865 and is the second oldest conservatory and oldest continually operating conservatory in the United States. It is one of t ...

in 1980, graduated from the first class of the American Symphony Orchestra League (today League of American Orchestras) Management Fellowship in 1980, and in that year she became the artistic administrator and general manager of the

National Symphony Orchestra The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1930, its principal performing venue is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It also performs for the annual National Mem ...

, serving until 1985. While there she worked with Henry Fogel, who became her mentor. She next spent two years with the

Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription ...

before being appointed orchestra and, later, general manager of the New York Philharmonic, where she remained for six months. Her tenure as president of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra began in 1993. There she helped develop the ensemble into one of the top orchestras in the United States; she also worked to find it a summer home in

Alpharetta, Georgia Alpharetta is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States, and is a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2020 US Census, Alpharetta's population was 65,818 The population in 2010 was 57,551. History In the 1830s, the Ch ...

, and otherwise became well known for her leadership and collaborative spirit. She hired music director Robert Spano and principal guest conductor

Donald Runnicles Sir Donald Cameron Runnicles OBE HonFRSE (born 16 November 1954, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish conductor. Life and career The son of William Runnicles, a director of a furniture supply company and a choirmaster and organist, and Christine ...

in 2001, and with them has played a key role in fostering the so-called "Atlanta School", a loose group of composers who have a strong connection to the orchestra. Her tenure in Atlanta was generally well-regarded, although she was unable to finance a new concert hall, designed by

Santiago Calatrava Santiago Calatrava Valls (born 28 July 1951) is a Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter, particularly known for his bridges supported by single leaning pylons, and his railway stations, stadiums, and museums, whose sculpt ...

, which had been planned for the city. In 2009 she returned to the Philadelphia Orchestra as president and CEO. The orchestra was in financial crisis at her arrival, but Vulgamore has since overseen a renegotiation of musicians' salaries. She also oversaw the appointment of Yannick Nézet-Séguin as the orchestra's principal conductor and its declaration of

Chapter 11 bankruptcy Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, whe ...

in 2011. Her contract was later renewed through 2014. Vulgamore has no children; she was married to keyboardist Peter Marshall, a classmate from Oberlin, until their divorce in 2003.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vulgamore, Allison Year of birth uncertain 1950s births Living people American music industry executives Oberlin Conservatory of Music alumni American women in business American arts administrators Women arts administrators 21st-century American women