Career
In 1986,Rutter was hired to head the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra,where she remained until 1992. She then became the executive director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In Seattle,she oversaw the construction of Benaroya Hall,the orchestra's new home. [6] She successfully worked to increase the Seattle Symphony Orchestra's visibility and endowment. [5]
Rutter was named to head the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association in 2003. According to arts management professor,Philippe Ravanas,she overhauled the orchestra's finance practices and reversed a financial decline. [4] She was later instrumental in attracting Riccardo Muti as the orchestra's music director,and Yo-Yo Ma as creative consultant. Ma credits Rutter with making the orchestra and its music more accessible through performance and education beyond the major concert. [7] During her tenure,the orchestra was hurt by a severe economic recession but her stewardship helped the organization to successfully weather it. In 2012,she settled a two-day musicians' strike. [6] Her latter years at the orchestra included record fundraising and ticket sales. [7] While in Chicago,she was named to the top 100 list of most powerful Chicagoans by Chicago magazine;she has held the chair of the policy committee of the League of American Orchestras,and has served as a board member for the Solti Foundation. [3] Rutter remained with the orchestra until June 2014. [8]
Kennedy Center presidency
Rutter became president of the Kennedy Center on September 1,2014. [8] [9] She became the first woman to head the large,partially federally-funded,performing arts organization that includes many different types of performances and programs,as well as being a presidential memorial. [7]
In the beginning of her tenure,she led the project to create the REACH,the first physical expansion of the Kennedy Center. The $250 million project was based on the assumption that people would want to meet with artists in a more casual setting which consists of a large and outstanding outdoor space designed by Steven Holl. [10] [11]
In 2018,Rutter launched DIRECT CURRENT,a festival of contemporary culture which focused on new and interdisciplinary art. [12] Over her tenure,she has expanded the Center’s programming,notably bringing in Q-Tip as the first artistic director of hip-hop culture. [13]
As part of the Center’s 50th anniversary season celebration,Rutter oversaw the creation and 2022 opening of the permanent exhibit Art and Ideals:President John F. Kennedy. [14] In January 2025,aged 68,she announced her intention to step down at the end of the year. Her 11-year tenure was noted for expanding the center both physically and programmatically. [15] In February 2025,Rutter was dismissed as president of the Kennedy Center shortly after Donald Trump was made chairman of the organization,and as he dismissed almost all the Center's leadership. [16]
U.S. Envoy Richard Grenell was appointed Rutter's successor in February 2025. [17]
Other activities
Rutter holds professional membership or board positions for Vital Voices,and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. [18] [19] She is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. [20]