About

Ellen Primack led the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, California, for more than three decades, nurturing a progressive community around new music and helping earn Cabrillo Festival an international reputation for creativity and innovation. Primack began as Associate Director of the Festival in 1991 assuming fundraising and marketing responsibilities, became Executive Co-Director in 1997, and Executive Director in 2000. During her tenure, she worked closely with music directors Marin Alsop and Cristian Măcelaru as well as a host of world renowned composers and soloists. She facilitated the commissioning of more than 50 new works for orchestra and built a uniquely authentic and welcoming culture of inclusion and creativity amongst artists and audiences—much-heralded in the field. Over her long career, Primack demonstrated a keen grasp of strategic planning and execution, fund development and donor cultivation, financial management, board and staff development, and artistic programming and administration. Prior to Cabrillo Festival, Primack was Public Relations Director of the DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and previously worked at Hill & Knowlton Public Relations in Boston. As an executive coach and consultant, she now works to support non-profit leaders in their pursuit to build sustainable, mission-driven, values-based organizations that serve their communities in meaningful ways.

Ellen Primack is a legend! She is widely admired for her work, for her gracious and creative style, and for her amazing legacy.
–Janet Cowperthwaite, Executive Director of Kronos Performing Arts Association

In all my years of work, I encountered many arts executives who were very good at their jobs. But rare among them were those who could find a true balance between art and business.  For me Ellen Primack, the longtime Executive Director of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, exemplified this rare bird of classical music who always seemed to put music first and yet take care of everything else simultaneously and with equal care. I’m not sure if Ellen and I have ever met in person but we had so many memorable phone conversations over the years and after each call I thought to myself what a true gem she was. The deep care with which she thought about music and composers was truly inspirational. 
–Ralph Jackson, former President of BMI Foundation

You created a masterpiece and brought happiness and joy to an entire community. Your head-and-heart management style is an inspiration.
–Steve Friedlander, former Executive Director of Carmel Bach Festival

Congratulations on an amazing legacy you created for Marin, Cristi, Cabrillo, and for yourself.  You did the impossible of running and growing a contemporary music festival to international fame! 
–Jeff Haydon, President & CEO of Ravinia Festival

Ellen has been an extraordinary and crucial support as an advisor, thought partner, and encouraging friend in my first year–she has imparted the ability to zoom out and think of the larger picture, while also remaining grounded in the essential attention to detail it takes to navigate operational variables. And, as to her career of service to the contemporary arts, there is no doubt that the field of orchestral music is forever changed for the better because of her.
–Riley Nicholson, Executive Director of the Cabrillo Festival