Emma Moon

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer

Emma Moon was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale (Philharmonia) in October, 2024

Emma Moon was most recently the Director of Development at SFJAZZ, one of the premier jazz presenters in the country, where she led a team to exceed the organization’s contributed revenue goals; recruited the majority of its current Board of Trustees and Development staff; and successfully grew the membership base to over 20,000 members, an institutional record. Prior to SFJAZZ, she worked at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County as Vice President of Development during the height of the pandemic. Emma has held key management roles for various Bay Area arts institutions, including Montalvo Arts Center, Other Minds New Music Festival, and the Stern Grove Festival. She has also performed as a flutist with the symphonies of Honolulu, Utah, Berkeley, and the Chautauqua Institution, was a panelist for the San Jose Arts Commission, and served on the Boards of Berkeley Symphony and SFTRAVEL. Emma is a graduate of Yale University and The Juilliard School.

Expressing her enthusiasm for joining the organization, Moon states, “Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale is one of the world’s greatest period ensembles. I was raised on their recordings as an aspiring music student, and the performances continue to inspire me to this day. As all arts organizations continue to navigate the impact of the pandemic, my goal is to work with the Board and staff to engage and rebuild Philharmonia’s audience and donor base through creative and relevant programming, guiding this legacy institution into the next decade.”

“Emma Moon is a dynamic and respected arts leader and brings experience, expertise, and poise at an exciting time of renewal for Philharmonia,” said Anne Katz, Philharmonia Board President. “Her confident leadership arrives at the perfect moment, as we welcome four exceptional Music Director candidates during our 24/25 season.” Philharmonia has identified four finalists in its search for a new Music Director—Grete Pedersen, Ruben Valenzuela, Peter Whelan, and Avi Stein. Each candidate will conduct a program as part of the current season, which gets underway October 17.