Beyond Music Appreciation

Left: Henry Fogel (photo by Layne Dixon); Right: Henry with his extensive record collection circa 1963 (photo by Steffan Aletti)

Beyond Music Appreciation Classical Music Is Henry Fogel’s Life Work

In the orchestra world, the name Henry Fogel is well known and carries a lot of weight. His current titles include Director of Performing Arts Administration and Dean Emeritus of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, as well as a leading arts executive and consultant. His bio includes President and Executive Director positions at the League of American Orchestras and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and he has led numerous high-profile boards. He has lent his experience and connections to multiple orchestras and arts organizations. That list now includes the Spartanburg Philharmonic. His prominence and expertise may be evident, but his pure love of classical music and the arts drives his decades-long commitment to the industry.

Henry studied music history and piano at Syracuse University. In 1963, he and fellow students took over a failing FM radio station and turned it into a fulltime classical music station - WONO. For 15 years, Fogel and his friends ran the station, with Fogel doing much of the programming himself. Along the way, he pioneered the idea of a charity “radiothon” benefiting an orchestra and in 1968 raised $8,000 for the Syracuse Symphony. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Fogel continued to help produce similar programs for 26 different orchestras across the US and Canada, raising millions of dollars along the way.

While continued his involvement with radio throughout his career, Henry Fogel and his friends sold WONO in 1978, after which Fogel turned his eyes and passion firmly to the symphony world. His first position was as the orchestra manager of the New York Philharmonic. From there, he moved to the Chicago Symphony, where he held the position of Executive Director, then President and CEO from 1985-2003. From there on to the American Symphony Orchestra League, now the League of American Orchestras.

Henry Fogel is quoted by the Chicago Tribune saying, “I’ve been fortunate to make a living in something that’s a hobby and a passion.” Spending his career in music administration has allowed him “to work in the field of music without having to be good enough to perform in it. It combines [his] love and knowledge of music with the process of management, leading people, directing people”.

Henry’s combined passion and expertise led the Spartanburg Philharmonic Board of Directors to request his leadership assistance in finding our

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next Music Director. “For an organization like the Spartanburg Philharmonic, the Music Director plays such an integral and pivotal role,” says Board President, Chip McLeod. “In thinking strategically about the future of the orchestra, we knew that having the additional expertise of someone like Henry Fogel would be crucial. His guidance and leadership will help us continue to build a strong legacy in our community.”

Having served in the orchestra world for so long, he is familiar with most of the applicants and readily able to assist the Search Committee in determining which candidates would best fit the organization. “What Henry Fogel has brought to our Music Director Search at Spartanburg Philharmonic is a depth of knowledge that is unparalleled in the classical music world,” shares Committee Chair and Board of Directors President-elect, Karen Parrott. “With top-tier orchestra experience, Henry deeply appreciates the integral role that local orchestras play in their communities and the impact it makes in the lives of our citizens. In that spirit, he has assisted us in identifying the diverse spectrum of both seasoned candidates as well as emerging talents that are capable of inspiring, attracting, and educating audiences, musicians, and students up to our 100th Season and beyond. We could not be more grateful for Henry’s vast expertise and endearing presence in our Music Director Search.”

The search for the next Spartanburg Philharmonic Music Director will continue into the 2022/23 Season, with five more candidates taking the podium. Henry Fogel will continue to provide valuable insight and guidance to the Search Committee as they evaluate each candidate. Executive Director, Kathryn Boucher echos the sentiments of McLeod and Parrott, adding, “Henry has challenged us to think even more critically and strategically about the search. His expertise, knowledge, and deep love for classical music have also inspired a renewed excitement for the orchestra’s future in the entire Search Committee and staff. We look forward to announcing our 2022/23 Season schedule and concert programs in March.”

Want to know how deep Henry Fogel’s appreciation for classical music runs? His impressive record collection is the stuff of legend. In the 1980s, his son Karl began a database cataloging the collection and is updated as Henry continues to add to his library. While the recordings themselves are not available, the database provides a wealth of knowledge for even the most casual classical music enthusiast. Check it out for yourself at www.henrysrecords.org.

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