Jazz at Lincoln Center today announced the appointment of Weston Sprott as its new Executive Director, beginning September 21. Mr. Sprott’s appointment follows a comprehensive search led by the Search Committee of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Board of Directors, whose decision reflects its confidence in Mr. Sprott’s leadership and commitment to the organization’s mission. As Executive Director, Mr. Sprott will report to the Board and work closely with Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis and senior leadership to build upon Jazz at Lincoln Center’s artistic and educational legacy of excellence.

“Weston’s exceptional track record of leadership at mission-driven organizations, combined with his virtuosic talent and reverence for jazz, makes him the ideal person to guide Jazz at Lincoln Center into the future as Executive Director, in collaboration with the Artistic Director. Of equal importance, he shares our values and has the personal and professional attributes that will ensure the organization remains true to the mission that has defined it for nearly four decades, to enrich and expand a global community for jazz through performance, education, and advocacy,” said Clarence Otis, Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Sprott’s appointment as Executive Director is an important milestone in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s previously announced leadership succession plan. “We are fortunate to have Wynton continue as a full-time senior leader for the next two years as Weston comes on board and the organization works to identify Wynton’s successor as Artistic Director,” continued Mr. Otis.

“I’ve known Weston for many years. He is an extraordinary leader, educator, and musician. He unequivocally embraces the responsibility to champion the music, nurture the next generation of artists, and continue building an institution that will endure for years to come,” said Mr. Marsalis. “Throughout his career, Weston has earned the respect of artists, students, and colleagues alike. He knows how to draw people together and keep mission and purpose at the center of everything he does. I know he will work tirelessly to ensure Jazz at Lincoln Center continues to be worthy of the artists and the many communities it exists to serve.”

Over the course of more than two decades, Mr. Sprott has built a distinguished career as an arts leader, educator, administrator, and performer. Most recently, Mr. Sprott has served for more than seven years as Dean and Director of the Preparatory Division of The Juilliard School, overseeing the school’s Pre-College and Music Advancement Program (MAP). He played a central role in securing transformative gifts for both the Pre-College and MAP, including a permanent endowment that has enabled MAP to provide full-tuition scholarships for all its students in perpetuity.

During his tenure leading Juilliard’s Preparatory Division, MAP expanded to serve more than four times as many students with tuition-free education, and the division began ambitious commissioning programs that have brought nearly 100 new works into the repertoire for young musicians, supported by a permanent endowment in the Pre-College with an intentional focus on elevating composers from an inclusive array of perspectives. In partnership with his long-time friend and colleague, the permanently endowed Weston Sprott and Anthony McGill Summer Scholarship Fund was created to support MAP students’ participation in summer music programs and festivals, an experience that both believe is a critical component of a young musician’s development. What is particularly remarkable is that these accomplishments grow directly out of his own excellence as a musician: he has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2005 while maintaining an esteemed career as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. Mr. Sprott has used that platform not simply to advance his own career, but to reshape the path for the next generation—demonstrating an uncommon combination of artistic excellence, visionary leadership, generosity, and a genuine belief that institutions can become both more excellent and more equitable.

“I have always believed that music has a remarkable ability to show us what is possible and does so in the most captivating ways. We sound better when we play together; recognizing and encouraging the contributions of others makes us shine brighter; and the best moments can elevate our collective belief in human potential. These beliefs have shaped every step of my journey, and it is what makes this opportunity so meaningful for me,” said Mr. Sprott. “Jazz at Lincoln Center is one of the world’s premier cultural institutions, and I’ve long admired how the organization has continually expanded its reach and impact while remaining true to its mission. I am honored by the Board’s confidence in me and grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside so many extraordinary artists, leaders, and colleagues. I look forward to building on Jazz at Lincoln Center’s legacy and ensuring that future generations continue to experience the transformative power of its performances, education, and advocacy.”

About Weston Sprott
Mr. Sprott studied at Indiana University and earned a Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied the trombone. He has been an educator for nearly two decades and has held faculty positions at Juilliard, Bard College, Music Academy of the West, Mannes College, Rutgers University, and Purchase College, among others.

An accomplished musician, Mr. Sprott has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2005 and previously held positions with the Zurich Opera and Philharmonia, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Delaware Symphony. Mr. Sprott also serves as Board Chair of the Friends of Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, and he is a member of both the Sphinx National Advisory Board and the Avery Fisher Artist Program’s Recommendation Board.

In 2021, Mr. Sprott co-founded the Black Orchestral Network, an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black orchestral musicians and advocating for greater equity throughout the profession. He received the Sphinx Medal of Excellence in 2020, the highest honor presented by the Sphinx Organization to extraordinary leaders in classical music who are transforming lives and addressing the systemic obstacles faced by Black and Latino communities.

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About Jazz at Lincoln Center:
The mission of Jazz at Lincoln Center is to entertain, enrich and expand a global community for Jazz through performance, education, and advocacy. With the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and guest artists spanning genres and generations, Jazz at Lincoln Center produces thousands of performance, education, and broadcast events each season in its New York City home (Frederick P. Rose Hall, “The House of Swing”) and worldwide, for all ages. Jazz at Lincoln Center is led by Chairman Clarence Otis and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis. Please visit us at jazz.org.

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Zooey Tidal Jones
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