My Approach

working with fellows at the national repertory orchestra (Photo Credit: Nat Hickman)

The performing arts world is unique. Organizations can benefit from the external support of partners who understand the culture, challenges and history of the field.

How I Can Help

Delegates at the 2023 ICSOM Conference

From helping your organization strategize how to begin culture change and belonging work, to sitting with you over time to build a formal EDIB strategy, I am here to help you make progress.

My Experience

Bournemouth symphony orchestra musicians at the association of british orchestras conference

I have an understanding of EDIB best practices inside and outside of the sector, informed by over 20 years of experience working in the performing arts field.

My experience is uniquely built to support arts organizations as an external partner. I have been trained in and use modalities of facilitation, mediation, coaching and consulting to meaningfully respond to the individual needs of client organizations and the people who work to advance their missions, all through a focused lens of equity, inclusion and belonging. I specialize in meeting stakeholders of all roles where they are at in the development and practice of necessary skills that are not always offered as a part of formal learning in the arts.

Qualifications Include:

  • MBA

  • MA in Arts Administration

  • French Horn Player: Studied with Mike Hatfield and Myron Bloom at Indiana Universty

  • 15 Years of combined experience on staff at the Dallas, Pittsburgh and Boston Symphony Orchestras

  • Trained Mediator: Completed forty-hours of mediation training in 2020 in accordance with M.G.L. ch.233 § 23C with MWI in Boston

  • Trained Facilitator: Completed Interaction Institute for Social Change’s Fundamentals of Facilitation for Racial Justice Work Program, Racial Equity Institute’s Phase 1 Workshop and AORTA’s Facilitate for Freedom Fundamentals Training

  • Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory

  • Leadership and Professional Coach (certification via Brown University anticipated in March, 2025)

Services Include:

Facilitation:

  • Meeting design and facilitation (committees, boards, etc.)

  • Retreat design and facilitation

  • Difficult conversation preparation and facilitation

Learning and Development:

Workshop topics include:

  • Implicit bias in performing arts settings

  • Giving and receiving feedback in performing arts settings

  • Understanding individual and organizational power

  • Understanding styles of conflict

  • Recognizing and responding to microaggressions

  • Building and maintaining psychological safety

Leadership Coaching:

  • Currently enrolled in an 8-month Professional Coaching Certification program housed at Brown University (anticipated graduation- March, 2025)

  • One-to-one, confidential leadership support for musicians, staff members, board members and music directors

Strategy and Change Management Support:

  • Strategic planning partnership

  • Equity, inclusion and belonging work visioning and action plan creation

  • Plan implementation support

CBA Review and Revision Support:

  • Support in revising audition and tenure policies through a lens of reimagined practice

  • Support in creating accompanying documents 

Organizational Culture Consulting/Behavior Assessments and Audits:

  • Qualitative and quantiative culture assessments, reports and recommendations

  • Equity, inclusion and belonging audits via an internal stakeholder interview process

  • Baseline measurements of internal belonging

"In her highly successful engagement with the NJSO, Jessica quickly gained the respect and loyalty of the Task Force, and the various constituencies of the organization, including Musicians; Staff; and Board. The plan and approach in which Jessica has led us produced meaningful and tangible results in an extraordinarily short time, given the complexity and sensitivity of the subject..."

Contact Jessica Schmidt:  jessica@orchestrateinclusion.com