Six New Members Also Join the Board

Los Angeles, September 27, 2013 – The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association elected Diane B. Paul to succeed David C. Bohnett as Chair of the Board at its annual meeting today. The appointment is effective as of October 1.

Paul, who joined the Board in 2009, said, “It is a privilege to be elected Board Chair of this exceptional organization, particularly as this unique season of anniversaries commences. As Walt Disney Concert Hall commemorates a decade of music making and the orchestra celebrates its ninety-fifth season, I am inspired by the artistic excellence of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. I look forward to contributing to our future success through our extensive education programs and innovative partnerships, as well as working with my visionary and dedicated colleagues on the Board of Directors.”

“The LA Phil family is delighted to welcome Diane Paul as the new Chair of the Board,” said Deborah Borda, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. “Her contributions to the Association as a member of the Board have been invaluable, particularly in her leadership roles as Chair of the Education committee as well as serving on the Executive, Marketing and Community Engagement committees. She and her husband David join the Philharmonic regularly on tour gaining a unique insider perspective.  Her passion for community, education and music as well as her commitment to the future of this organization are a perfect fit.

“On behalf of Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and the Board, I would like to express our deepest appreciation to outgoing Chairman David Bohnett. He is an inspired leader who brought fervent dedication to advancing the cause of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and will continue to be an active member of the Philharmonic family.”

Diane B. Paul is a retired attorney, who specialized in litigation during a distinguished career with the law firms of Loeb & Loeb; Cox, Castle & Nicholson; and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Paul has been attending LA Phil concerts since the 1970s and was inspired to join the organization’s Board of Overseers by the excitement surrounding the opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall ten years ago.  

During the past year, six new members have been elected to the Board: Adriana Cisneros de Griffin, Ronald Litzinger, Linda Brittan, Alyce Williamson, Teena Hostovich and Giselle Fernandez:

Adriana Cisneros de Griffin: Cisneros is the CEO and Vice Chairman of the Cisneros Group of Companies, a privately-held, international media, entertainment and telecommunications company based in Caracas, Venezuela, and President of Fundación Cisneros, which is dedicated to improving education and promoting Latin American culture worldwide. Cisneros also serves as Director of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and as a Term Member of the Council of Foreign Relations.

Ronald Litzinger: Litzinger is the President and a Director of Southern California Edison (SCE). He has held a wide range of executive positions at the Edison International companies since joining SCE as an engineer in 1986. Litzinger is a former member of the boards of Long Beach Symphony Association and the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, and is currently a member of the Visiting Committee at the University of Washington’s College of Engineering.

Linda Brittan: Brittan and her husband, Maynard Brittan, are the owners of Roxbury Management, a property management company, and Fair Hills Farms, an equestrian center in Topanga.  Brittan is the Secretary of the Traub-Brittan Family Foundation, which supports performing arts and Jewish organizations. Brittan has served on the board of the LA Opera.

Alyce de Roulet Williamson: An active arts philanthropist, Williamson currently serves on the boards of the Music Center, LA Opera and The Blue Ribbon. She additionally serves as a Trustee of Art Center College of Design and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the School of American Ballet. Beyond the arts sphere, Williamson is a board member and former Chair of First Century Families, a board member of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and a Trustee Emeritus of Scripps College.

Teena Hostovich: Hostovich is the Executive Vice President and an Executive Committee member of Lockton Insurance Brokers, Inc., the largest global, privately-owned insurance brokerage. Hostovich was named one of 50 ‘Women to Watch’ internationally by Business Insurance magazine and was included among the ‘Top 40 Women in Los Angeles’ in the ‘Executive of the Year’ category by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Hostovich is active politically and currently serves as a Presidential Partner/Advisor to President Obama and as a member of the Democratic National Finance Committee.

Giselle Fernandez: Fernandez is a five-time Emmy award-winning journalist, producer, film maker and Latin media marketing entrepreneur. She is the President of F Squared Media Enterprises and Managing Director of Creative World Talent Management, a division of the Trump Group. Among her numerous posts, Fernandez anchored NBC's weekend edition of The Today Show and the Sunday edition of NBC Nightly News. Fernandez was appointed by President Obama to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and serves on the Board of Trustees of City Year Los Angeles and the National Council of La Raza. She is a founding member of President Obama's Futuro Fund.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music from all genres – orchestral, chamber and Baroque music, organ and celebrity recitals, new music, jazz, world music and pop – at two of L.A.’s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (www.laphil.com) and the Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com). The LA Phil’s season at Walt Disney Concert Hall extends from October through May, and continues throughout the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic as the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, education and community programs.