Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra names Dana Newman President

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, one of the nation’s leading orchestras renowned for its wide-ranging repertoire and adventurous commissioning initiatives, has named attorney Dana Newman President of the Board of Directors, announced LACO Executive Director Rachel Fine. The Altadena resident succeeds Gene Shutler, who assumes the role of Chairman of the Board after completing a three-year term as President. Fine also announced the appointment of four new board members to three-year terms: Ahsan Aijaz (Los Angeles), vice president, Fortress Investment Group; Leslie Lassiter (Beverly Hills), Los Angeles market manager, J.P. Morgan Private Bank; Raulee Marcus (Long Beach), president, Pinnacle Management; and attorney Shaheen Nanji (Pacific Palisades), principal, Integrated Technologies Group and community leader.
“Dana Newman’s visionary and inspiring leadership, commitment to LACO, exceptional business skills and proven accomplishments as a community builder and immense passion for music and the arts will help propel the Orchestra forward as we look to its 50th anniversary and beyond,” says Fine. “We are also most grateful to Gene Shutler for his outstanding guidance. During his tenure as President, he helped LACO successfully navigate our country’s challenging economic times while ensuring the Orchestra thrived financially as well as artistically. We deeply appreciate that he will remain on the Board as Chairman. Additionally, we welcome Ahsan Aijaz, Leslie Lassiter, Raulee Marcus and Shaheen Nanji to the Board. With their forward-thinking leadership and keen business acumen, they will be wonderful ambassadors for LACO.”

Newman is a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, based in Pillsbury’s downtown Los Angeles office. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she earned her undergraduate degree at Yale University, a Masters in Tax from the University of New Haven, and a J.D. from UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall). She practices tax, partnership, real estate and tax-exempt finance law, with an emphasis on advising domestic and foreign clients on tax aspects of US partnership, corporate and real property transactions. She represents clients in a broad array of industries and activities, including projects qualifying for various federal and state tax credit programs, real estate investment and development, manufacturing, food services, aviation and development funds. During her long career with Pillsbury, Newman has served in a variety of management positions with the firm. A long-time supporter and advocate of pro bono work, Newman has recently been named as the Chair of Pillsbury’s Pro Bono Committee. Newman’s personal pro bono efforts have involved providing significant pro bono legal services to a number of nonprofit corporations developing affordable housing in Los Angeles, including representation of Ward Economic Development Corporation as one of the developers of the Rosa Parks Villas Project, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance as one of the developers of the New Hampshire Family Housing Project, and Pacific Housing Alliance as the developer of the Euclid Villa Project in Pasadena. Over the years, she has also provided pro bono assistance for a variety of other nonprofits, including Five Acres, Union Station, Southern California Presbyterian Homes, Westminster Gardens and the Pasadena Presbyterian Church Foundation. Newman has received recognition and awards for her efforts from the California State Bar, Public Counsel and many of her pro bono clients. Newman and her husband, Ned, are one of the sponsors of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church’s Friends of Music concerts. Long-time LACO subscribers, they are devoted fans of Baroque Conversations, enthusiastic First Chair Society members and gala patrons, and supporters of Sound Investment since 2005.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is considered one of the world’s premier chamber orchestras as well as a leader in presenting wide-ranging repertoire and adventurous commissions. Its 2014-15 season, the Orchestra’s 46th, features a compelling mix of beloved masterpieces and genre-defying premieres from firmly established as well as notable up-and-coming composers programmed by Jeffrey Kahane, one of the world’s foremost conductors and pianists, who marks his 18th season as LACO’s music director.