Anwar Nasir (he/him/his) is the Chief Revenue and Advancement Officer for the Omaha Symphony. He establishes the vision and strategy for relationship management and leads the public relations and revenue generation teams for the organization. During his tenure, he has helped the organization launch its first creative rebrand in more than a decade, retool its subscription packages to increase paid capacity, launch a centennial anniversary season, and introduce a new music director. To reach audiences beyond live performances, the organization has committed to creating video and digital content, including its first-ever primetime network broadcast with Home for the Holidays and the launch of the Omaha Symphony app.
Anwar has been named an emerging leader in the arts and culture space by the League of American Orchestras and Arts for LA. He also serves as co-chair for the League of American Orchestras Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion working group for staff of color and the Professional Development Committee of the International Ticketing Association. He is also the co-founder of the Black Arts Leadership Alliance, formed to support African Americans in pursuing and developing careers in arts management.
In October 2018, the League of American Orchestras selected Anwar as one of twelve for its prestigious, year-long Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). The ELP is widely considered the orchestra field's premier program for cultivating the potential of rising professionals. Through collaboration across a national cohort, industry-specific leadership projects, and dynamic mentoring from top industry professionals, members of the ELP shape and influence the orchestra world as it evolves to meet changing needs and audiences.
An in-demand speaker, Anwar has presented at several national and international conferences with topics as diverse as integrating technology in customer experience, data-backed decision making, customer acquisition and retention, customer service in social media spaces, and professional development/career transitions.
Anwar is a former professional dancer and is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in communication and rhetorical studies. The Philadelphia native has held leadership positions with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl, Atlanta Ballet, and Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation.
He has also completed management training programs through the League of American Orchestra’s Essentials of Orchestra Management program and the Georgia Center for Nonprofit’s certification of Nonprofit Organization Management.