St. Louis Symphony Orchestra names Alex Shapiro Chief Philanthropy Officer

(February 26, 2023, St. Louis, MO) – Today, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Alex Shapiro as the institution’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, beginning February 26. Shapiro succeeds arts consultant and advisor John Easley, who served in the position on an interim basis since November 2023.

Marie-Hélène Bernard, SLSO President and CEO, said, “I am delighted to welcome Alex Shapiro to the SLSO. As a seasoned non-profit executive and philanthropy expert, he brings a deep knowledge of the orchestra industry and an impressive track record in fundraising and campaigns at arts institutions across the country. He joins the SLSO at a pivotal time as we position the institution for growth with the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall. His passion for the arts aligns with the SLSO’s mission to enrich lives through the power of music.”

Alex Shapiro, SLSO CPO, said, “I am both honored and excited to be joining the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra team.  I’m passionate about music—classical music in particular—so this is an extraordinary opportunity for me to both support and work with such a talented group of musicians, staff, and board volunteers.”

Shapiro most recently served as Vice President of Philanthropy with the Kansas City Symphony for seven years. Prior to that position, he served as the Director of Institutional Advancement at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and Executive Director of the IAIA Foundation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The arts have been an important thread throughout his career, including Executive Director of Santa Fe Pro Musica, Executive Director of DANCECleveland, and Director of Development with the San Francisco Museum of Performance + Design. 

A New Jersey native and graduate of Columbia University in New York City, Shapiro grew up in a household of musicians and played French horn through college.

In his role, Shapiro will report to President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard and oversee a team of 16 toward $10 million in annual giving, efforts to complete the capital campaign for renovation and expansion of Powell Hall, and support ongoing efforts to build the endowment fund through legacy and planned gifts.