James is a performing arts executive with over twenty-five years of leadership experience and a special passion for activating free public programs. Before joining Make Music New York, he was Executive Director of the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, a not-for-profit theater and arts academy serving Long Island’s East End. From 2001 through 2013, he worked at City Parks Foundation, NYC’s largest producer of free outdoor performing arts programs, including the renowned Central Park SummerStage and Charlie Parker Jazz festivals. As Director of Arts & Cultural Programs (2007-13), he and his team rebranded and expanded SummerStage to parks across all five boroughs, spearheaded dozens of dynamic commissions, developed original content for television and the web, and forged innovative partnerships with a host of prestigious presenting organizations. Prior to 2001, James worked in sales, marketing and promotions for a variety of music industry trendsetters, including Paradigm Associated Labels, Caroline Distribution and Reel to Reel Records. An avid musician since his teens, he has recorded and toured with numerous projects, including the post-punk band Idle (Big Deal). He is a graduate of Boston College and an alumnus of Coro Leadership NY, class of XVII.

Ethan Ostrow has worked in the music industry for over a decade in a variety of roles. As a pianist, Ethan leads the NYC-based band The Outside In, a modern-jazz group with a flare for rock, funk and folk; and performs as a sideman around the city, often with trumpet player Kellin Hanas. As a concert producer, Ethan created Concert for a Cure, a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society based in Oakland, CA. Over four years, Concert for a Cure raised over $55,000 for the LLS, and brought the music community together in support of blood cancer patients and survivors. Ethan has also worked on the production teams for WBGO Radio (Jazz Night in America), and Mayor Eric Adams’ Rise Up NYC concert series. Ethan holds a BM in Jazz Piano from the Manhattan School of Music. 

Robert Becker, Chair
Financial Advisor, Stiflel

Henry Henderson, Secretary
Vice President, Leasing at Marx Realty

Samit Mody, Treasurer
Managing Director, Emigrant Realty Finance

Phil Ballman
Director of Cultural Affairs and Tourism,
Office of the Queens Borough President

Youn Cho
Principal at Apollo Global Management

Aaron Friedman
Executive Director, Make Music Alliance

Alexis Goldberg
Global Event Producer for Top Tier Brands

Camilla G. Hellman, MBE
Trans-Atlantic Relations

Sharon King Hoge
Writer and Editor; Former ED of National Music Day

Dick Lynn
Executive Director, Newport Live

Robert Singerman
SVP, International Publishing at LyricFind, Inc.

Peter Seymour
Professional Musician, PROJECT Trio

Steven Swartz
Founder & Director, Dotdotdotmusic

Takashi Yoshizaki
Consultant, Parker Infrastructure Partners