C I N C I N N AT I BA L L E T L E A D E R S H I P THE SUE & BILL FRIEDLANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Cincinnati Ballet has experienced tremendous growth and success under the leadership of Victoria Morgan, now in her 24th season. In 2008, Morgan took on the role of executive leader, serving as both the Artistic Director and CEO. Under her leadership, after years of growing deficits, the company stabilized its finances, built a $13 million endowment fund (today at $14.5 million), created an operating reserve, presented several million-dollar capital projects, and expanded the Otto M. Budig Academy and Community Engagement programming. In 2017, with the arrival of Scott Altman, Victoria became a full-time Artistic Director, giving her the opportunity to focus exclusively on artistic excellence. During her tenure at Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan choreographed numerous one-act and full-length ballets, including world premieres of King Arthur’s
Camelot, the new Nutcracker and her revised choreography for Cinderella. Morgan was instrumental in fundraising efforts to secure support for Cincinnati Ballet’s iconic nine-studio brand new facility, scheduled to open in June 2021. With Cincinnati Ballet’s administrative and artistic team, Morgan responded to COVID-19 in a creative and science-based way, enabling Cincinnati Ballet to safely present one of the nation’s first ballet performances—with an audience! It took place outdoors at the Procter & Gamble Pavilion in September 2020. Prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan was resident choreographer for the San Francisco Opera and a Principal Dancer for San Francisco Ballet and Ballet West. She served on numerous boards including Dance USA, Dance Magazine, the NEA evaluation panel, and was a judge for several International Ballet Competitions. Morgan graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M.F.A. from University of Utah and was honored as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement in 2009.
Cincinnati Ballet
VICTORIA MORGAN
SCOTT ALTMAN
PRESIDENT + CEO
Scott Altman joined Cincinnati Ballet as President & CEO in September 2016. Under his visionary leadership, Cincinnati Ballet has reached many noteworthy milestones, including its first $10 million operating budget, a dynamic new logo and brand identity, record-breaking ticket sales, the new Family Series, and expanded community and education programs. To accommodate this incredible growth, Altman launched a capital campaign to construct a new, larger, state-of-the-art ballet center. The $31 million dollar project is nearing complete funding and the Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance is on track to open in summer 2021 in Walnut Hills. During his tenure, Altman has been honored for two consecutive years by Cincinnati Magazine in its Cincinnati 300— a compilation of the city’s top 300 executives, and currently serves on the Board of DanceUSA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON M. CONWAY
as Executive Managers Council Chair as well as Trustee on the Board of Ohio Citizens for the Arts. Altman brings with him nearly three decades of experience in nonprofit administration and performing arts. Prior to his roles in administration, Altman enjoyed a 20-year career as a professional opera singer and performed 40 opera roles internationally. He has held leadership positions at Arizona Opera and Opera New Jersey, and just prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet he was Executive Director of Ballet West. During his tenure, Ballet West experienced phenomenal expansion, including growth in ticket sales, a vastly expanded touring schedule, robust growth in donor development, and the construction of a new building. He is an alumnus of the Manhattan School of Music and the State University College at Purchase. Altman attended Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders, was a Utah Business 2016 CEO of the Year Honoree and is a three-time recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Citation of Excellence Award.
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