Over the next couple months, we will be spotlighting some of our amazing Roundtable Board Members via our new Blog section on the website. Check out our first Board spotlight, Ted Wiprud!
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Theodore Wiprud, composer, educator, and former Vice President, Education, at the New York Philharmonic, joined the Board in 2005 and served as Co-Chair from 2011-2018. Currently, Ted is consulting in the arts and education, including researching EDI initiatives among American orchestras.Ted was Music Alive Composer-in-Residence with the South Dakota Symphony in 2018-2019, and continues to work with indigenous teen composers across that state. At the Philharmonic, Ted hosted the iconic Young People’s Concerts and led a large set of educational initiatives. Earlier in his career, he was Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and developed educational programming at the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and the American Composers Orchestra. Ted shared some of his favorite things about NYC and being a member of the Roundtable’s Board of Directors.
Tell us about your work in arts education.
I’ve been working as a teaching artist and administrator in arts education for about 30 years, working with many music organizations in New York. My administrative work culminated with leading education at the New York Philharmonic for 14 years, hosting Young People’s Concerts and supporting the work of a fabulous corps of teaching artists. For the past few years, I’ve been an independent composer and consultant in a wide range of projects, from strategic planning to designing concerts for youth, to mentoring young composers, to documenting progress among orchestras in the effort to build more inclusive and equitable organizations.
What is your favorite “nook” of NYC?
I thrive in the new music space, hearing the very latest ideas of my colleagues, from first-time composers to established peers.
Name a favorite cultural institution or experience in NYC.
The Philharmonic remains a favorite, if only because I have personal friendships with so many of the musicians. I can’t wait to see and hear them in the renovated David Geffen Hall next fall.
“I wanted to help the cause of arts education in NYC in a broader way than just through my own organization.”
Share one of your favorite experiences you’ve had with the Roundtable.
My experiences with the Roundtable go back to the very first Face to Face, so it’s hard to pick one or two, but I have to say that several of the Days of Learning stand out, because anti-racism training was new to me. It made a big personal impact, and has changed the Roundtable’s vision and role.
What Roundtable initiative really speaks to you?
I am particularly proud of the response the Roundtable made to the COVID pandemic, securing support for teaching artist relief funds to help talented artists stay in arts education.