Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Leadership and Professional Affiliations
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Generic

Sonja Wohlgemuth

San Carlos,CA

Summary

A visionary leader with a 30-year career in music education, professional performance, and executive leadership, I have excelled in higher education roles, performed with world-renowned music groups, artists and conductors, and spearheaded growth and impact for non-profit endeavors. My work is marked by fostering artistic access and engagement, career development, and driving community-focused initiatives. With a history of influential leadership in national organizations, I've influenced numerous industry developments. I seek challenging and fulfilling roles, approaching each opportunity with optimism and enthusiasm. My mission is to serve others and create pathways that enhance life trajectories.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Executive Officer

Music for Minors
San Carlos, CA
03.2010 - Current
  • Led successful strategic development and growth initiative resulting in a three-fold scale-up of annual children served, increasing from 7,000 to over 25,000, expanding management roles and job opportunities for local artists and achieved revenue expansion by 750%
  • Secured $500,000 leadership gift to support the 50th Anniversary Foundation to Future strategic plan for infrastructure expansion to deepen community impact
  • Paved the way for a multi-year curricular development for expanded grade levels, languages, digital resources and tutorials, including the pilot testing of the NextGen curriculum concept.
  • Played a key role in the advancement of programmatic developments for fifth-grade instrumental, pre-school and summer camps
  • Secured technology fellows from the Encore Fellows Program, leading to the creation of a centralized, web-based educational resource platform
  • Forged a strong relationship with Harvard Business School Community Partners to evaluate the feasibility of adopting a licensed curriculum model
  • Secured pro bono legal support with Seyfarth Shaw LLP, for music teacher employment reclassification, and Norton, Rose, Fulbright US LLP, for copyright compliance and intellectual property developments
  • Led MusicWorks initiative, conducting comprehensive in-house research to identify community barriers in music education and the funding ecosystem needed for sustainable programs
  • Established relationships with local academic institutions, contributing to the improvement of educator recruitment and collaborative training opportunities
  • Identifying possibilities for future merger with relevant organizations

Executive Director

Cantabile Choral Guild/Cantabile Youth Singers
Palo Alto, CA
05.2002 - 12.2009
  • Established successful collaborative relationship with artistic personnel to advance ongoing artistic endeavors within budgetary and operational parameters.
  • Cultivated relationships with premier performance organizations including Symphony Silicon Valley, West Bay Opera, and Stanford Lively Arts, resulting in increased programmatic opportunities and heightened recognition.
  • Recruited university-affiliated and globally recognized artistic leadership, resulting in organization's debut at Carnegie Hall
  • Streamlined administrative practices by establishing comprehensive guidelines, operations manuals, and concise job descriptions.
  • Successfully enhanced donor base and income streams by developing comprehensive annual fundraising strategies, leading to a growth rate of 125%.
  • Led and implemented successful marketing strategies, boosting enrollment by 33% and earning Bay Area Parent's Best of the Best Family Favorites Award.
  • Cultivated ongoing volunteer engagement by establishing strong relationships with family members
  • Fostered the development of 80% new governance leadership during crucial organizational transition
  • Led organizational dissolution into two separate 501c3 entities and successfully managed their transitions.
  • Worked closely with artistic leadership to develop curriculum and broaden ensemble options
  • Developed a comprehensive succession plan and facilitated the recruitment, selection, and training of a new executive director before transitioning out

Consultant

Music at Kohl Mansion
Burlingame, CA
04.2008 - 04.2008
  • Provided interim executive director services during leadership leave of absence

Consultant

Midsummer Mozart Festival
San Francisco Bay Area
03.2007 - 09.2007
  • Provided interim executive director services during leadership transition

Professional Chorister

San Francisco Symphony Chorus
San Francisco, CA
09.1997 - 06.2005

Consultant

Blue Bear School of Music
San Francisco, CA
03.2005 - 04.2005
  • Provided strategic plan development with board of directors

Professional Chorister

San Francisco Opera Chorus
San Francisco, CA
04.2002 - 09.2002

Professional Chorister

Cabrillo Music Festival
Santa Cruz, CA
06.2001 - 08.2001

Adjunct Faculty of Music

Butler County Community College
El Dorado, KS
09.1992 - 08.1997
  • Led voice studio, women's ensemble, and coached music theater productions

Adjunct Faculty of Music

Kansas Newman College
Wichita, KS
09.1992 - 05.1994
  • Led voice studio and women's ensemble

Education

Standards for Excellence program in ethics training for non-profits -

Markkula Center For Applied Ethics
Santa Clara, CA
01-2018

Leaders Institute -

Center For Excellence in Nonprofits
Redwood City, CA
01-2014

Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management -

Harvard Business School
Boston, MA
01-2013

MA Vocal Performance -

Wichita State University
Wichita, KS
01-1993

BA Vocal Performance -

Bethany College
Lindsborg, KS
01-1988

Skills

  • Executive Leadership
  • Strategic Planning
  • Business and Partnership Development
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Stakeholder Relations
  • Change Management
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Budget and Finance
  • Governance
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Problem Solving
  • Thought Leadership

Leadership and Professional Affiliations

  • The VOCES8 Foundation, Board of Directors, 2019 - 2020
  • West Coast Songwriters, Board of Directors, 2015 - 2018
  • SVCreates, Grant Review Panel, Shared Services Project Focus Group, 2018
  • San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, Grant Review Panel, 2013
  • National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy), Member, Board of Governor, Education Committee, 2005 - 2007
  • American Guild of Musical Artists, Board of Governor, Shop Delegate, Labor Negotiations Consultant, 1997 - 2006

Accomplishments

  • Selected as one of four finalists for the annual KRON4 (Nextar Corporation) San Francisco Bay Area Remarkable Women Campaign for 2024

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Chief Executive Officer

Music for Minors
03.2010 - Current

Consultant

Music at Kohl Mansion
04.2008 - 04.2008

Consultant

Midsummer Mozart Festival
03.2007 - 09.2007

Consultant

Blue Bear School of Music
03.2005 - 04.2005

Executive Director

Cantabile Choral Guild/Cantabile Youth Singers
05.2002 - 12.2009

Professional Chorister

San Francisco Opera Chorus
04.2002 - 09.2002

Professional Chorister

Cabrillo Music Festival
06.2001 - 08.2001

Professional Chorister

San Francisco Symphony Chorus
09.1997 - 06.2005

Adjunct Faculty of Music

Butler County Community College
09.1992 - 08.1997

Adjunct Faculty of Music

Kansas Newman College
09.1992 - 05.1994

Standards for Excellence program in ethics training for non-profits -

Markkula Center For Applied Ethics

Leaders Institute -

Center For Excellence in Nonprofits

Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management -

Harvard Business School

MA Vocal Performance -

Wichita State University

BA Vocal Performance -

Bethany College

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