Meet Matías Tarnopolsky. The Director talks about the arts and Cal Performances in this 4:00 video. Full Size Read the San Francisco Chronicle, Mercury News, and New York Times articles on Matías Tarnopolsky.

Currently Vice-President of Artistic Planning at the New York Philharmonic, Tarnopolsky will assume leadership of the 103-year old Cal Performances, the performing arts presenting, producing and commissioning organization based at the University of California, Berkeley

BERKELEY, May 20, 2009—Robert J. Birgeneau, Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, today announced the appointment of Matías Tarnopolsky as Director of Cal Performances, effective August 10, 2009. The announcement was made at a press conference held in Zellerbach Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. Mr. Tarnopolsky has served as Vice-President of Artistic Planning at the New York Philharmonic since 2006, and previously was Senior Director of Artistic Planning at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Hailed "the most adventurous high-quality performing arts organization in the country" by The Wall Street Journal (December 2008), Cal Performances is a destination for internationally celebrated artists and is considered one of the most influential performing arts centers in the world. Cal Performances presents the world's leading opera singers, orchestras, recitalists and chamber musicians, ballet and modern dance companies, and theater and world stage artists. It is also home to the Berkeley Festival & Exhibition of early music and the Berkeley Edge Fest of new music.

"We are truly fortunate to have identified such an accomplished and talented artistic leader in Matías Tarnopolsky for the directorship of Cal Performances," commented UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau. "This is an individual with a superior musical intellect, whose enthusiasm for all of the performing arts truly knows no boundary. Throughout his career—at the BBC, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and now the New York Philharmonic—he has demonstrated a keen ambition to advance the important role that the performing arts play in our world. His distinct artistic vision will enrich the cultural offerings in the greater Bay Area and underscore the significant place that the arts and humanities hold at the University of California."

"Throughout the search, we remained focused on the mission, vision and values of Cal Performances to guide the process, and we are extremely gratified by the result," says Patricia Theophilos, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Cal Performances. "It was a wonderful discovery to find all the skills, qualities, and high standards that we sought in one very promising person. I want to thank and congratulate the members of the search committee, the co-chairs—Budd Cheit and Susan Graham—and our search consultant, Catherine French, for their commitment and diligence toward this very successful conclusion."

"I was immediately struck by the vibrancy of the cultural environment at Berkeley and in the quality and variety of the offerings at Cal Performances. This is a rare phenomenon in the world of the performing arts, and it's what makes Cal Performances a special place," remarked Mr. Tarnopolsky. "Cal Performances' audiences embrace the idea of high-quality, diverse, innovative programming, and they have a great appetite for the exploration and enjoyment of the best that the performing arts have to offer. This is the ideal environment for arts and ideas to flourish. I inherit a remarkable artistic legacy from (outgoing director) Robert Cole; he has set a high bar. I am deeply grateful to Chancellor Birgeneau, Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost George Breslauer, and the members of the Board of Trustees of Cal Performances for granting me this extraordinary opportunity. While my work at the New York Philharmonic has been incredibly gratifying and fulfilling, this is a unique opportunity, and I look forward with great enthusiasm to working with UC Berkeley faculty and students, and to leading Cal Performances in the next phase in its impressive history."

As Director of Cal Performances, Matías Tarnopolsky is responsible for the overall artistic vision and executive leadership of the performing arts program, encompassing the fields of chamber music, visiting orchestras, opera, early music, new music, vocal and instrumental recitals, classical and modern dance, jazz, world music and dance, theater, and a speakers series. The performing arts season runs September to June, presenting 60 to 75 different events in approximately 90 to 120 performances. He is also charged with initiating and commissioning new artistic and educational ventures, including those in association with national and international performing arts centers and festivals, and with supporting the educational and research mission of the University through the performing arts program. Cal Performances is also the administrative home of Student Musical Activities, which provides extracurricular musical instruction and performance opportunities through the Cal Marching Band, UC Jazz Ensembles and UC Choral Ensembles.

Former Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean Emeritus of the Haas School of Business Earl F. Cheit and Susan L. Graham, Pehong Chen Distinguished Professor Emerita, Computer Science Division—EECS, co-chaired a 13-member committee of University faculty and students, Cal Performances staff and trustees, and community leaders to conduct the search; and executive search consultant Catherine French of the Catherine French Group was engaged to provide expertise in the field of the performing arts.

MATÍAS TARNOPOLSKY
Matías Tarnopolsky, 39, is Vice-President for Artistic Planning at the New York Philharmonic. In this role he has worked extensively with Music Director Lorin Maazel, Music Director Designate Alan Gilbert and other pre-eminent conductors and artists in creating the artistic profile of the New York Philharmonic. From 1999 to 2006, Mr. Tarnopolsky was Director of Programming, and later, Senior Director of Artistic Planning, at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) where he collaborated with Music Director Daniel Barenboim on all aspects of the CSO's programming, and was responsible for Symphony Center Presents, the CSO's prominent presenting series, which programs some 60 piano recitals, visiting orchestra performances, chamber music, contemporary music, and other programs annually. There he also created the CSO's new music series, MusicNOW; brought the West-Eastern (Arab-Israeli) Divan Workshop and Orchestra to Chicago; spearheaded collaborative projects with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northwestern University and University of Chicago, among others; and he programmed the CSO's training orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and led the artistic planning of the CSO's education and community programs. Mr. Tarnopolsky was previously a producer for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers (1997-1999), and has written extensively about music, including material for liner notes, program notes, and articles for magazines and other publications. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in music and musicology, respectively, from the University of London, King's College.

Mr. Tarnopolsky received early training in piano, later studied conducting, and devoted serious instrumental study to the clarinet. He cites attending the Proms concerts as a transformative influence: "Having these amazing concerts as part of my upbringing, and the fact that they were so widely accessible, left an indelible impression. Furthermore, my experience of the rich diversity of cultural offerings of London, in music, dance and theater helped shape my belief in the fundamental importance of the performing arts in our society." Mr. Tarnopolsky has served on boards and juries for numerous national and international musical organizations; was a panelist for the French/American Fund for Contemporary Music (2005-2006); and a Board Member at the American Composers Forum (2003-2004), among other professional appointments. Mr. Tarnopolsky was born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and raised in London (England). He is married and is the father of two children.