NORTHWEST CHOIRS NAMES
ROBERT SIMONDS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Robert Simonds has been appointed Executive Director of Northwest Choirs effective November 10, 2026, joining the organization at a pivotal moment in its artistic, educational, and community engagement efforts.
Following a national search, Robert was selected to work alongside Artistic Director Jacob Winkler to lead the organization behind the Northwest Boychoir and Vocalpoint! Seattle. As Executive Director, Robert will guide the organization’s administrative and strategic direction while working with artistic leadership, Board members, families, donors, and community partners.
Board President Dr. John Petersen said, “Robert brings a rare combination of world-class artistic experience and proven administrative leadership, and our board is enthusiastically looking forward to working with him to further the choir’s mission.”
Throughout his twenty-five-year career, Robert has worked to bring together artistic excellence, education, and access to create opportunities for performers, audiences, and communities to connect. A professional violinist for more than twenty years, he served most notably as Principal Second Violin of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Louisville Orchestra. Throughout his performing career, he was also actively involved in education and community engagement, helping connect major arts institutions with their communities.
Most recently, Simonds served as Director of Strategic Relationships and Partnerships at Key to Change, a youth music organization in South King County, WA. His work there spanned fundraising, partnerships, and organizational strategy in service to the mission of providing access to world-class music instruction.
Reflecting on his appointment, Simonds said, “I’ve admired Northwest Choirs since I arrived in Seattle, both from hearing the music-making firsthand and from its reputation across the region. Many people have shared with me the unique role the organization plays in the lives of young people and families. I look forward to building on the tradition that generations of singers, families, and supporters have forged, while working to broaden the institution’s reach and deepen its impact.”
An experienced educator, Simonds was a member of the music faculty of the University of Indianapolis and has presented master classes at colleges and universities across the country. His volunteer service, particularly in youth development and music education, has included roles with the Hochstein School of Music & Dance in Rochester and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras.
Artistic Director Jacob Winkler shared, “Robert shares our deep belief in the transformative power of music education for young people. I look forward to partnering with him to expand our reach and build a sustainable future for Northwest Choirs, for the next fifty years and beyond.”
Simonds holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School.
Outgoing Interim Executive Director Marcia Murray enthused, “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Robert for three years, and have seen his heart for service, commitment to youth development through the arts, and capacity to connect with a wide range of people. I can’t think of a better person to lead the choir to new heights, organizationally and as a community.”
Northwest Choirs brings young singers together through sustained musical study, ensemble performance, and collaboration. Its programs serve hundreds of singers from across the Puget Sound region, with need-blind admissions and significant financial aid helping ensure that participation is not determined by a family’s ability to pay.
Northwest Choirs’ singers have appeared with leading regional and national artists, from the Seattle Symphony and Music of Remembrance to the Eagles. Their work also extends to film, video game, and live-performance recordings. Across more than two dozen concerts and special events each season, the ensembles reach thousands of audience members annually.
Among the organization’s signature programs is the Grammy-nominated Northwest Boychoir’s A Festival of Lessons & Carols. The annual holiday series brings performances to communities across the Puget Sound region and concludes at Benaroya Hall presented by the Seattle Symphony.
Northwest Choirs’ fall programming continues October 22-25 with Vocalpoint Seattle’s Listen to the Music: Songs on Songs at Broadway Performance Hall.
More information and tickets for all performances can be found here: https://www.nwchoirs.org/concerts-and-events
The national search was led by Syrah Gunning, Senior Consultant, Executive Search and Development, of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management, a leading provider of arts management services, training, and thought leadership for arts, cultural, and educational sectors worldwide. Learn more here.
For more information about Northwest Choirs, visit www.nwchoirs.org
For further information or to schedule interviews, please contact our office: info@northwestchoirs.org
