Andrea Laguni
A native of Florence, Italy, Andrea Laguni’s career in performing arts production and management began over 26 years ago when he became a production assistant for the Summer/Winter Festivals of Fiesole. Following that formative experience and prior to joining the staff of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in 1995, he worked for the San Francisco Opera, Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, Los Angeles Opera, and the Orchestra della Toscana.
Laguni’s work has touched on all facets of orchestra management. Initially brought on as LACO’s director of artistic administration and education, he went on to serve as its general manager and, most recently, as associate executive director. As the primary liaison between the artistic and management arms of the organization, he works closely with Jeffrey Kahane to fulfill the music director’s artistic vision by playing a lead role in strategic planning, operations and community engagement. He has also supported the orchestra’s communications and fundraising initiatives, helping to establish LACO’s innovative communal commissioning group, Sound Investment.
Laguni received his Doctoral Degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Florence and also studied at the University of California at Berkeley, where he was involved in independent research under the direction of J.R. Searle. He studied viola and voice at the School of Music of Fiesole, as well as harmony, counterpoint, and composition as a private student of Italian composer Riccardo Luciani. He is a 2000 alumnus of the American Symphony Orchestra League’s Orchestra Leadership Academy, Seminar in Artistic Excellence.
Recognized as a leader in the arts field, in 2005, Laguni became part of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission’s Executive Coaching Initiative, volunteering to coach one-on-one a leader of a smaller Arts Commission grantee. Laguni has also served as a panelist for the Commission’s organizational grant program. From 2003 to 2005, he served as a board member of LA ARTCORE, a multi-cultural exhibitor of local and international visual artists. He currently sits on the board of directors of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras, the orchestra field’s statewide advocacy and professional development agency.
Laguni resides in Burbank with his spouse of 26 years, artist Dan Read, and their two cats, Ugo and Lulu.
