Joanne Hubbard Cossa, Chief Executive Officer of the American Music Center, studied English, theater and music at Syracuse University and Hunter College. She worked briefly as an actress and singer before entering arts administration in the early 1970s. Joanne spent 15 years at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, rising through the ranks to become Development Director and later Executive Director for seven years. She first became interested in the work of contemporary composers at the Society, and more than 40 new works were commissioned during her years there. Following her departure from the Chamber Music Society, she spent 15 years as Executive Vice President of Symphony Space, a multi-disciplinary performing arts center in New York. Among programs in music, dance, literature, theatre and film, Symphony Space commissioned joint works from composers and choreographers for its Face the Music and Dance series. Joanne spent two seasons as General Director of Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY, before returning to New York and joining the staff of the American Music Center. Under her leadership, the Center has posted balanced budgets and launched several major new initiatives including Counterstream Radio. Joanne sings alto with the New Amsterdam Singers.