PRESS RELEASE

Anne Ewers Bio

In July 2007, Anne Ewers assumed the role of president and CEO of Kimmel Center, Inc., (KCI), the $35 million organization that owns and operates the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, home to eight resident companies presenting a wide range of music, dance and theater offerings,  and manages the Academy of Music and Merriam Theater.

During her first year with the Kimmel Center, Ms. Ewers led the company in retiring its $30 million construction debt, raised the endowment from $40 million to $72 million and closed the 2007-2008 fiscal year with a $1.2 million surplus to be used for capital improvements.

Recognizing the need for the Kimmel Center to serve as a catalyst for creative collaboration,
Ms. Ewers envisioned an event that has evolved into the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), a city-wide arts and cultural festival inspired by the Kimmel Center. She worked with the Annenberg Foundation to secure the $10 million grant to create PIFA’s organizational infrastructure and to produce the inaugural event, taking place April 7 through May 1, 2011. 

Before her tenure at the Kimmel Center, Ms. Ewers served as president and CEO of Utah Symphony & Opera beginning in July 2002, following the merger of the two performing arts organizations. During her time there, she doubled the organization’s endowment from $18 million to $36 million; turned a structural deficit of $1.8 million into a $360,000 surplus; founded the Deer Valley Music Festival, which generates $1.9 million annually; helped the symphony launch its first European tour in 19 years, netting $850,000; and oversaw the recording of the symphony’s first CD in 15 years.


From 1991-2002, Ms. Ewers worked as general director of Utah Opera, where she increased the Opera’s budget from $1.5 million to $5 million, grew the subscription base by 20 percent, expanded the seasonal repertoire from three to four main stage productions and surpassed two capital campaign goals, raising more than $8 million.

Prior to joining Utah Opera, Ms. Ewers served as general director of Boston Lyric Opera from 1984-1989, where she retired a $450,000 deficit, built an endowment fund and added two main stage productions. From 1979-1981, she was an assistant stage director at San Francisco Opera.

An accomplished opera stage director, Ms. Ewers directed Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins of the Petite Bourgeoisie (2002-2003 season) and Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire (2004-2005) for the Utah Symphony & Opera. She made her main stage debut with San Francisco Opera in 1988-1989, directing La Gioconda. Other artistic highlights include her direction of Wagner’s Ring, performed in Boston and New York for Boston Lyric Opera, as well more than 60 other opera productions over the course of her career.

Active in her community and in several professional organizations, Ms. Ewers serves on the board and executive committees of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is a member of the advisory boards for Opera Boston and Organic Theatre Company (Chicago) and is also a frequent panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ms. Ewers holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Bachelor of Music from Fontbonne College (1974) and a Master of Music in Opera Production from the University of Texas at Austin (1977).

The Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), inspired by the Kimmel Center, launches the city’s arts and cultural scene onto the world stage with a three-week festival featuring Philadelphia performances and activities designed to appeal to loyal fans, as well as the new-to-the-arts crowd. Based on the philosophy of collaboration, creativity and innovation, PIFA programs comprise newly commissioned works, unexpected partnerships with both local and international artists and non-traditional and emerging art forms, along with classic performances that engage residents and visitors alike. With the overarching theme of Paris 1910-1920, PIFA celebrates works from and inspired by the period and the general innovative spirit of the time. Funded in part with a $10 million grant from Philadelphia philanthropist Mrs. Leonore Annenberg, whose vision for a city-wide arts extravaganza shaped the festival, PIFA takes place April 7 through May 1, 2011.

For the most up to date information, contact PIFA at (215) 790-5800 or visit pifa.org.
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Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, provides a rich diversity of programming through its Kimmel Center Presents sponsored by Citi and Broadway Series of performances, as well as arts in education and community outreach. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music together serve as home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops®. Kimmel Center, Inc. owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by The Philadelphia Orchestra Association.