Henry Fogel has spent over half a century in the administration of orchestras and their musicians. He has held leadership positions with the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the League of American Orchestras. Now in his 80s, Henry is still active as a talent consultant and mediator for orchestras across the globe. Additionally, Henry is widely considered among the world’s foremost experts in recorded classical music with a personal collection of recordings that numbers over 25,000. His managerial and leadership skills, combined with his genuine love of the genre, have given him a unique perspective along an experiential path like... Read More
The CEO’s Symphony
October 18, 2026
Trade Paperback
Available for pre-order now!
$25.00
Former CSO CEO Henry Fogel shares the behind-the-scenes details of what makes an orchestra work, seasoned with his perspective on what makes the music great.
-
Henry Fogel
Author
-
“This is a wonderful book not only for those who love classical music and those intrigued by the inner workings of major arts organizations, but for anyone aspiring to be a successful leader in any field. A terrific read, highly recommended!”
Summary
Follow the lifelong journey of Henry Fogel, from a startup classical music radio station in Syracuse to president of one of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras. Henry’s successful rise through the ranks of arts administration is attributable in no small part to his unparalleled knowledge of serious music which endeared him to the likes of Daniel Barenboim, Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovich and Georg Solti. He is equally beloved by the many musicians who played in the orchestras he led, as he approaches every situation and negotiation with empathy and fairness.
In this autobiographical account, Henry shares the behind-the-scenes details of what makes an orchestra work, seasoned with his perspective on what makes the music great. There’s no one else who can better describe the tempo and timbre of the orchestral domain with exacting detail and a wry sense of humor. His story is insightful for those who know this field well, and educational for those who want to know it better.