Press Release: Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces Promotion of Christopher Shiley to President of SPAC

April 4, 2025

Saratoga Performing Arts Center Announces

Promotion of Christopher Shiley to President of SPAC

Formerly the Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning, Christopher Shiley will oversee SPAC’s programming and operations in collaboration with SPAC CEO Elizabeth Sobol

Saratoga Springs, NY (April 4, 2025) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center announces that it has promoted Christopher Shiley, SPAC’s former Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning, to President. Building off of his leadership at SPAC for the past seven years, Shiley will now oversee SPAC’s programming and day-to-day operations in alignment with the organization’s ambitious goals for the future. Working collaboratively with Elizabeth Sobol, SPAC’s Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, the President will play an essential role in supporting SPAC’s continued growth and the long-term sustainability of the organization.

“Chris has become an invaluable asset to SPAC and to our leadership team over the past seven years. Elevating his role to become SPAC’s President is an important step as we plan for the organization’s future and will allow me, for the first time in my tenure, to focus almost exclusively on strategic matters. In his new position, Chris will oversee SPAC’s programming and operations while I continue my work to guide SPAC’s long-term strategic vision, growth, and financial sustainability,” says Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Christopher Shiley shares: “I relocated to Saratoga Springs seven years ago to pursue an opportunity at one of America’s most prestigious amphitheaters. Under Elizabeth’s leadership, I have grown alongside the organization itself, strengthening my commitment to the arts and to this community. SPAC is now a vibrant year-round organization with a continued focus on growth and community impact through our robust education programming and multiple stages that the best artists in the world call home. I look forward to my continued work with the incredible SPAC staff and utilizing the skills that I have developed here to make a broader impact across the entire organization.”

Over the past decade, SPAC has reaffirmed its commitment to world-class programming with New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Saratoga Jazz Festival, and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, while simultaneously expanding its artistic and physical footprint with the completion of its new Pines facilities and the addition of Spa Little Theater, SPAC’s new year-round home. In addition to programming all four seasons of the year, SPAC has introduced a dynamic roster of contemporary composers, choreographers, and performers from around the world, while expanding its definition of the arts to encompass a thriving culinary arts program, visual arts exhibitions, literary arts programming, and healing arts initiatives.

Since joining SPAC in 2018, Christopher Shiley has been instrumental in helping to shape the creative vision and direction of SPAC’s programming, in collaboration with Elizabeth Sobol. Prior to joining SPAC, Shiley worked for the international concert-touring company, Classical movements, where he served as the Festival Director of the Prague Summer Nights Young Artist Music Festival. Shiley also served as Director of Operations for the Yellow Barn Music Festival and as Operations Coordinator for the nationally acclaimed Baltimore Symphony Orchestra OrchKids program. As a professional musician, Shiley served multiple seasons as the Principal Trumpet of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and has a Master of Music from Temple University and a Bachelor of Music from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University both in Music Performance.

To learn more, please contact Kristy Ventre at kventre@spac.org.

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Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts. SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.