Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra appoints president and CEO

The Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (HSO) has announced the appointment of Amy Iwano to the role of president and CEO effective from July. Iwano will join music director Dane Lam, who led HSO’s 2023-24 season, to broaden community access to cultural and musical experiences and encourage support for orchestral music.

Iwano comes to the HSO following an extensive career in the arts industry, spanning orchestral, chamber, jazz and world music, educational programming, community events and performing arts leadership in Los Angeles, Chicago and Santa Fe.

Talking about her new role, Iwano said: ‘Under the leadership of music director Dane Lam, the board of directors, staff and community partners, HSO is flourishing. I’m honoured to join such a distinguished team ensuring a vibrant future of music enjoyment, appreciation and education in Hawaiʻi.’

Iwano brings to her new role broad leadership experience with organisations including Performance Santa Fe, Art + Sol Santa Fe Winter Arts Festival, The Chicago Chamber Musicians and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, She continues to work in public service as vice chair of the board of directors in New Music USA, board member at Amphion Foundation and an advisory board member for the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago.

HSO board chair Paul Kosasa said: ‘It is with great aloha that we welcome Amy as Chief Executive of the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. With her decades of artistic experience and ties to numerous esteemed music organizations, HSO will continue to grow its programming to embrace Asian, Pacific and Western music genres as well as bring world-class performers to our islands.’