Grand Rapids Symphony welcomes Carlos Vicente as Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Tom O’Connor Consulting Group is pleased to announce that Carlos Vicente has been named Vice President of Marketing and Communications of Grand Rapids Symphony after a nationwide search.

Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Carlos has more than twenty-two years of experience with performing arts organizations both in the United States and abroad. Carlos comes to Grand Rapids from the Sarasota Opera, where he has been the Director of Marketing since 2014 – overseeing both marketing and communications. 

Prior to being in Sarasota, Carlos was with the Houston Symphony for eight years. During his time there he was involved in all facets of the marketing department, and his work has received numerous awards from the Houston chapter of the American Marketing Association. 

Mr. Vicente holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Texas Christian University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Rice University. Carlos was invited by Opera Europa to participate as a panelist in the first World Opera Forum in Madrid, Spain. In South America, he presented in the 2019 Ópera Latinoamérica Conference in Quito, Ecuador on “Selling Verdi,” and was the co-producer of the first Creative Economy Forum in Manaus, Brazil. He was the Co-Chair of the Opera America Marketing Forum for five consecutive years, and a Strategic Committee Member for OPERA America. Carlos currently serves in the board of the Sarasota Music Archive. 

Grand Rapids Symphony President and CEO Mary Tuuk said she’s thrilled to welcome to West Michigan a seasoned professional with decades of arts management experience. “Carlos’ diverse performing arts management background and strategic marketing skills are invaluable as we further innovate on the delivery of our mission,” Tuuk said. “His deep understanding of end to end patron experience will shape how we recover from the pandemic and expand our relevance to all parts of the West Michigan community. Carlos’ joyful heart shows itself in everything he does, and his love for our mission creates boundless light that will radiate through our Symphony family and community”. 

“I am thrilled to become part of the Grand Rapids Symphony family, not only a world-class orchestra, but a true reason for pride by the West Michigan community,” Vicente said. “I find its staff to be comprised of some of the most dedicated, passionate and talented arts professionals I have encountered in my 22 years in the business. Furthermore, my family and I are excited to make Grand Rapids our home.” 

About Grand Rapids Symphony

Organized in 1930, the Grand Rapids Symphony is nationally recognized for the quality of its concerts, the breadth of its educational programs, and the innovation of its initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion as well as to serve the wider community in non-traditional settings.

Led by Music Director Marcelo Lehninger, Principal Pops Conductor Bob Bernhardt and Associate Conductor John Varineau, West Michigan’s largest performing arts organization is affiliated with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus, and the biennial Grand Rapids Bach Festival.

GRS collaborates annually with Opera Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Ballet and biennially with the Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo.

About Tom O’Connor Consulting Group 

Tom O’Connor Consulting Group is a New York City-based arts and culture consultancy offering strategic advisory, recruiting, and leadership coaching services to organizations across the US—all with a focus on the teams responsible for revenue generation.

Explore our site to learn more about Our Services, Our Team, and Our Clients. Sign up for email alerts of future searches.