Team

Deborah Steinglass’ thirty-five-year career as a nonprofit arts leader has been devoted to the people and organizations who make artistic work possible. Since August 2020 she has focused her work on strategic planning for small arts organizations, interim leadership for organizations in transition, and life and leadership coaching for artists and emerging arts leaders. To advance that work she received Interim Executive Director training from The Support Center in August 2020, and in September 2022 she became a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach after two years of training from the Co-Active Training Institute.

From April 2013 to April 2020 Deborah was Director of Development at New Music USA, where she also served as their Interim CEO from October 2018 through August 2019. As Director of Development at New Music USA Deborah helped secure major grants from the Mellon Foundation for the organization’s Music Alive program and created two major initiatives: The New York City New Music Impact Fund which was funded by The Scherman Foundation and which provided grants, residencies, and co-mentoring to a cohort of new music ensembles; and a major donor national network, New Music Connect.

From 2009 until 2013 Deborah was Executive Director of The Jazz Gallery, where she created a Residency Commissioning Program and launched The Woodshed at The Jazz Gallery, which provided free rehearsal space for jazz musicians. In December 2012 she moved The Jazz Gallery to a new location after changes in zoning forced them out of their original space. They remain in that location today.

Early in her career Deborah was a pianist and educator. While she remains a pianist to this day, in 1987 her career took a new direction when she joined the staff of the American Music Center. After leaving The American Music Center in 1993 Deborah went on to serve as Director of Development for organizations including Concert Artists Guild, From the Top, and Creative Arts Team.

Deborah has spoken at national arts conferences and served on grants panels for Chamber Music America, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and Opera America. She serves on the board Executive Committee of Boulanger Initiative, and she is a board member of Sparks & Wiry Cries. She majored in piano performance at SUNY Albany.