Nadia Sirota

Host/Producer

Nadia Sirota’s varied career spans solo performances, chamber music, curation, and broadcasting. In all branches of her artistic life she aims to open classical music up to a broader audience. Nadia won a 2015 Peabody Award, broadcasting’s highest honor, for her podcast Meet the Composer, which she co-created, co-produced, and hosted. Since 2018, she has been the New York Philharmonic’s Marie-Josée Kravis Creative Partner. She also serves as Creative Associate at The Juilliard School and as artist-in-residence at UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance. 

As a viola soloist, Nadia has appeared with acclaimed orchestras around the world, and she has released four solo albums of commissioned music. Nadia is a member of the acclaimed chamber sextet yMusic and records for Bedroom Community, a collective of musically diverse artists who work and collaborate at Reykjavík’s Greenhouse Studios.

James Lemkin

Co-producer

James Lemkin is co-founder and president of Eclipse Projects, a boutique arts management and consulting firm based in Los Angeles and New York City. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, he thrives working in niche genres and in the mainstream alike. James is committed to working with artists who connect deeply with their art, and is driven to help them reach a wider audience. Formerly of Interscope Geffen A&M, and currently as an independent artist manager and international tour manager, James has worked closely with artists of all stripes who have won GRAMMYs, a Peabody Award, a Pulitzer Prize and have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mark Travis

Technical Director

Mark Travis is the New York Philharmonic’s Associate Director, Media Production, and has directed the orchestra’s broadcasts since 2003. With 25 years in media, he’s just about done it all, serving as a writer, producer, broadcaster, lecturer, podcaster, artist, video editor and audio engineer. From 1999 to 2011 he served as the lead producer for Chicago’s WFMT Radio Network, where he wrote and directed more than 800 nationally syndicated programs. He also has an extensive discography as a music producer, including three Grammy-nominated recordings by the New York Philharmonic. Other credits include projects with Carnegie Hall’s Song Studio with Renée Fleming, Ensemble Connect, the 92nd Street Y, the National Youth Orchestra, the Chicago Chorale, UMS, Interlochen Public Radio and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as a regular guest lecturer for Mannes College of Music at New School University and the Grand Piano Series in Naples, Florida. 

Valerie Whitney

Production Manager

Valerie Whitney is committed to supporting communities of musicians by working in Production and Operations- currently for The New York Philharmonic, and formerly with New Amsterdam Presents. She has developed a love for producing the weird stuff, and continues to produce New Music events throughout New York City, and the world at large