Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

Chamber Music America (CMA), the national network of ensemble music professionals, has named Stony Brook University alumnus Kevin Kwan Loucks as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2021.

Loucks earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook in 2013, and served as teaching assistant for the Emerson String Quartet. He was named one of Stony Brook’s distinguished 40 Under 40 Alumni in 2018. He has also earned a Master of Music from The Juilliard School, an Executive MBA from the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University, and a professional certificate in Strategic Marketing Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Executive Education Program.

“As a lifelong chamber musician and arts entrepreneur, I am honored to be leading Chamber Music America into a new chapter of growth and expansion,” said Loucks. “This appointment comes at a critical time for artists, creators, educators, managers, presenters, and organizations that support our vibrant national arts economy, and I look forward to utilizing my skills and experience to create new opportunities for CMA and its membership community. I am eager to work with everyone as we meet the challenges of a post-COVID performing arts landscape together.”

“I am incredibly impressed by Kevin’s success since leaving the program at Stony Brook,” said Christina Dahl, incoming chair in the Department of Music who mentored Loucks as a student in the program. “Even as a doctoral student, Kevin was particularly talented at organization, and with a sense of vision about all things related to chamber music. The Department of Music at Stony Brook wishes him fantastic success in this new position with Chamber Music America!”

“In addition to his leadership experience and demonstrated commitment to the field, Kevin impressed the search committee with his wide-ranging background in business development, artistic and program planning, fundraising, and strategic management,” said Mimi Hwang, chair of CMA’s Board of Directors. “He is enthusiastic about continuing CMA’s important work advocating for the arts and working toward racial equity, while bringing new ideas that will help invigorate the field.”

Loucks created the Music Academy of the West’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Residential to help artists cultivate formal business skills, and has consulted for the organization’s Alumni Enterprise Awards, which supports audience development, education, social justice and technology ventures. He teaches portfolio development, strategic management, and entrepreneurship at Chamber Music | OC’s Pre-College Program, and has presented leadership seminars at Boston University, The Juilliard School, Texas Christian University, and UCLA.

Loucks previously served as the Philharmonic Society of Orange County’s Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he secured new funding through individual solicitations, corporate, and foundation support, and led “Making Music Essential,” the organization’s first Virtual Gala, as well as “The Music Plays On,” a two-night Gala event celebrating a post-COVID return to live concerts. Prior to that, he served as Director of Innovation and Program Development at Music Academy of the West, where his work creating the Sing! Program, a free, after-school choral music initiative serving hundreds of students from more than 30 schools in Santa Barbara County, earned him recognition from the California State Legislature.

As Co-Founder and President of Chamber Music | OC, Loucks, with violinist Iryna Krechkovsky, championed classical music in the greater Orange County area; the organization’s programs reach thousands of Southern California residents annually.

A founding member of the award-winning ensemble Trio Céleste, Loucks has performed internationally at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Prösels Castle in Italy, and Seoul Arts Center. He was a top prize winner at the Schlern International Competition in Italy and has earned accolades from the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition in Boston and the American Prize in Piano Performance.