La Jolla Music Society Appoints Mary Cook as Director of Marketing

Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is pleased to announce that Mary Cook (she/her) has been appointed Director of Marketing by La Jolla Music Society (Todd R. Schultz, President and CEO) in La Jolla, California following our extensive national search led by Tom O’Connor.

Mary Cook most recently served as the Director of Alumni Relations at Francis Parker School where she led alumni fundraising, communications, and events. Previously, she directed the Communications efforts of the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse. During her 15-year tenure she launched the marketing campaigns for over 35 world-premiere plays and musicals, including the Broadway-bound productions of Paula Vogel’s Indecent, Ayad Akhtar’s JUNK, and Come From Away, directed by Tony Award-winning Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.

She was a founding staff member of the Playhouse’s Without Walls Festival which has gained international acclaim for its intriguing presentation of immersive theatre, music, and dance from artists around the globe. She was an invited panelist at industry conferences for Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the National Alliance of Musical Theatre (NAMT), and Dance/USA; and played a key role in audience-building initiatives spearheaded by The James Irvine Foundation and The Wallace Foundation.

Prior to the Playhouse, she held a marketing position for a national book distributor and launched campaigns for major book releases for Amazon, Sam’s Club, and Costco. She attended the University of California, Irvine where she graduated Cum Laude and was a member of the Humanities Honors Program. She lives with her husband and daughter in San Diego where they enjoy exploring California's coast, desert, and mountains in their camper van.

"La Jolla Music Society embodies the best an arts organization can offer–they present the highest caliber of artists in a welcoming environment highlighted by the stunning, state-of-the-art Conrad,” says Mary Cook. “It is an honor to continue my career in the vibrant San Diego cultural community by joining the wonderful team at La Jolla Music Society as it embarks on its inspiring next chapter. I truly cannot wait to get started."

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the results of this Director of Marketing search,” says La Jolla Music Society President and CEO Todd Schultz. “Mary has the right combination of performing arts, marketing, communications, and branding experience to fit our needs and take The Conrad and La Jolla Music Society into its next stage of growth. We look forward to welcoming Mary onto the team!” 

Says Tom O’Connor, “Mary is a pro, and exactly the right choice to join the phenomenal team at La Jolla Music Society–a kind and impressive group of people presenting extraordinary programming for the La Jolla community. We are thrilled to see what their collaboration yields, and know that Mary’s long knowledge of the local arts landscape will be a great asset into the future. We are cheering them on.” 

About La Jolla Music Society

As one of Southern California’s leading presenters of premier performing arts, La Jolla Music Society contributes to San Diego’s cultural vitality year-round through a rich variety of presentations, including classical, jazz, global roots, contemporary music, and dance, at its state-of-the-art venue, The Conrad. In addition to robust educational programs and community outreach, La Jolla Music Society produces SummerFest, a four-week chamber music festival featuring more than 80 world-class artists and ensembles performing both traditional and eclectic concerts.

About Tom O’Connor Consulting Group 

Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is a NYC-based consultancy that supports arts institutions and leaders with two integrated services: organizational strategy and executive search. Consulting specialties including marketing, strategy, assessment, and organizational development. Founded in 2015, TOCG is a fully remote company with team members spanning the country and the globe.

Select clients have included Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Carnegie Hall, Cincinnati Opera, Huntington Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, Next Chapter Podcasts, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and more.

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