Mraz previously served as Project Manager for both Royal Opera House Covent Garden (ROH) and London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)
The American Pianists Association has announced that classically trained pianist Peter Mraz will take over as President and CEO.
The Slovakian's tenure will start on 1 August, taking over for outgoing President/CEO and Artistic Director Dr. Joel Harrison who will remain in a consulting role while Mraz acclimates to the new role.
After graduating as Valedictorian from the Košice Conservatory of Music in his native Slovakia, and earning a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Peter Mraz moved into management consulting for public and private sector clients, and later made a career transition to non-profit arts management in London, UK, holding numerous positions at high-profile international arts organisations.
He served as Project Manager for both Royal Opera House Covent Garden (ROH) and London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). During his tenure at the LSO, Mraz oversaw the UK premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, and the world-premiere of a new film score for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog. He also oversaw a number of LSO tours to Europe, India, Abu Dhabi, and China, and worked with LSO Education department to grow LSO’s outreach and education programmes.
On his appointment, Mraz comments, "My first love was the piano, so it’s fitting to find myself here at American Pianists Association. APA is already one of the most respected musical organisations in the U.S., and I look forward to building on their success while exploring opportunities for new partnerships. I am especially excited about the upcoming strategic planning in 2022, and opportunities to bring the 2023 Jazz Awards to new audiences as some of the early projects in my new role.”
The American Pianists Association has been supporting aspiring young artists for over 40 years and has been based in Indianapolis since 1982. You can find out more about the organisation here.
Main image: ©Liza Voll
