Rochester Civic Music Has Its New General Manager

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The City of Rochester announced the new leader of Rochester Civic Music today.

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Avital Rabinowitz will take over as the new General Manager. She will be tasked with leading the Civic Music department and creating opportunities for connection and engagement in the arts and cultural initiatives. This includes the ability to organize the evolution and expansion of diverse and impactful programming, increase and create collaborative and meaningful partnerships, and oversee the department budget and revenue-generating functions.

Rabinowitz will take over the recently retired Steven Schmidt, who led the department for over 20 years.

“I am thrilled and honored to serve the City of Rochester as General Manager for Civic Music,” Rabinowitz said. “Rochester has long been a national leader in supporting music and the arts, to the great benefit of its citizens and visitors. I look forward to supporting that legacy by developing programs that enrich and enhance the Rochester community through music.”

City officials said that Rabinowitz’s cooperative and inclusive leadership style was a signature aspect of her interview that “will assure the vision, mission, and goals of the City of Rochester are advanced through Civic Music.”

“We are excited to welcome Ms. Rabinowitz to the Rochester team,” City Administrator Alison Zelms said. “She joins a strong team of committed professionals in Civic Music who are hard at work preparing for the 2022 season, which includes the 30th Anniversary season of Down by the Riverside. Avital’s unique background, expertise, and passion will serve our residents, businesses, and visitors well.”

Rabinowitz joins the City from American Public Media, where she served as a Producer and Project Manager. She holds a Bachelors in Arts from Barnard College at Columbia University, a Masters of Arts & Cultural Leadership from the University of Minnesota, and a Master in Business Administration from Capella University. Most recently, Rabinowitz served as a member of the Forecast Public Art Board of Directors, a Minnesota-based non-profit.

She will begin her tenure as General Manager on February 28th.