The Heifetz International Music Institute has announced that its President and CEO, Benjamin K. Roe, will retire in September 2026 after leading the organization for the past twelve years.
Upon completing his service as President and CEO, Roe will assume the role of President Emeritus. He will continue to help advance the organization’s mission, support strategic initiatives, and guide the transition to new leadership.
Roe joined the Heifetz International Music Institute in 2014, and he has led the organization through a period of significant expansion and innovation. He helped the organization expand scholarship support, launched the program’s Junior Division, created the Chamber Music Seminar, increased fundraising efforts and national visibility, and expanded the summer festival into a season featuring more than sixty concerts.
Roe also led the festival’s digital transformation during the Covid-19 pandemic, creating an online learning and performance environment that connected faculty and students across fourteen countries. He also oversaw increased presence on platforms such as YouTube and spearheaded frequent national broadcast appearances, including the public radio program and podcast Heifetz On Air.
“As I conclude this chapter, leading Heifetz has been one of the great privileges of my professional life,” said Roe. “I look forward to supporting the Institute’s continued growth and watching the next generation of extraordinary musicians shape the future of our art form.”
“Working alongside Ben has been a rare privilege,” said Heifetz Artistic Director Nicholas Kitchen. “His musical intelligence, strategic insight, and profound belief in the communicative power of performance have shaped this institution in lasting ways.”
In the coming months, the organization’s Board of Directors will begin a national search for the Institute’s next leader.
“We approach this transition from a position of strength,” said Board Vice-Chair Amy Seto. “As Heifetz enters its fourth decade, we are energized by the opportunities ahead and deeply grateful that Ben will continue to play an important role in the Institute’s future as President Emeritus.”