The Eastman School of Music has announced that Mark Berry has been appointed Executive Director of Communications. In this position, he will manage all aspects of the School’s strategic communications program, including developing and overseeing marketing, media relations, public relations, publications, and design.
Berry has worked in arts marketing and arts administration for more than a decade and is currently Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. In that position he was responsible for the development and production of the orchestra’s marketing materials, strategy for and management of all components of the annual subscription and single-ticket campaigns, and media relations.
“Mark Berry brings to this position broad high-level experience in the profession,” said Douglas Lowry, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music. “We look forward to working with him to improve Eastman’s visibility and reach.”
Before coming to Rochester in 2012, Berry served in the marketing department at Carnegie Hall for almost five years, first as assistant editorial director and then as head writer. He worked on branding and strategic messaging for the institution, created a brand writing guide, oversaw the redesign of the Hall’s Playbill program, and project managed the editing of a book on Carnegie Hall.
From 2004 to 2007, Berry worked as a publicist for Naxos of America, the largest independent classical music distributor in the United States and Canada. He created and maintained a Naxos blog and developed a press strategy that resulted in coverage in the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Los Angeles Times, Billboard, The New York Times, NPR, and other major media outlets.
Berry also served as marketing manager for the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in New York City, where he oversaw a comprehensive re-branding of the orchestra, created a marketing campaign that increased ticket income and website traffic, and implemented marketing for St. Luke’s in-house recording label.
A musician who plays double bass and bass guitar, Berry received his Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax and his Ph.D. in music history and theory from Stony Brook University.
“I am excited to be joining the Eastman School of Music and its communications team,” said Berry. “Whether introducing young people to music here in Rochester or training the next star on the world stage, Eastman is an essential part of our musical culture; it’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to help it grow. I also want to thank the RPO for the opportunity to serve as its Vice President of Marketing and Communications over the past year. I am certain that the orchestra is heading toward a bright future.”
Berry will be joining the Eastman School of Music on Monday, April 8.
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