Jennifer Barlament

Biography

A passionate advocate for orchestras and their role in building strong communities, Jennifer Barlament joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2016. As the institution’s chief executive, Jennifer defines the strategic vision for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra while engaging key audiences to make that vision a reality.

At the ASO, Jennifer has presided over a period of extraordinary financial, artistic and institutional success, including the landmark naming of Nathalie Stutzmann as music director in 2022; consistent annual budget surpluses; multiple successful contract negotiations with the Orchestra’s musicians; growth of audiences and expansion of community programming; completion of an endowment campaign; and strategic development of the ASO’s Board and donor base. Of particular note is the ASO’s increased emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion in all areas of the institution under Jennifer’s leadership, including the enhancement of the ASO’s Talent Development Program, an elite training program for pre-collegiate Black and Latinx musicians pursuing careers in classical music. With the collaborative efforts of orchestra, staff and Board, Jennifer also guided the Orchestra through the COVID-19 pandemic, driving innovative solutions and launching a new digital concert series.

Jennifer has enjoyed a rich career in a variety of roles in orchestras across the country, including at The Cleveland Orchestra, where she served as General Manager; the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra; Omaha Symphony; Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Jennifer is a past recipient of the League of American Orchestras' prestigious Helen M. Thompson Award. She is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, was featured in Atlanta Magazine’s “Women Making a Mark,” served on the Emory University Board of Visitors, and serves on the advisory board of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta. She resides in the Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta.

When I was playing the clarinet, I could influence my one line. But when I was managing the orchestra, I felt a sense of contribution to the whole group.

– Jennifer Barlament