Monica J. Felkel
Named by Musical America as one of the 2019 Top 30 Professionals of the Year: The Movers & Shakers of the Performing Arts and widely considered to be among the most recognized and respected influencers in the field of classical music, Monica Felkel has over 30 years’ experience in the classical music industry, working with of instrumentalists, composers, and ensembles.
Monica began her career at Young Concert Artists in 1989, serving as its Director of Artist Management for over 20 years. Founded in 1961, Young Concert Artists is recognized internationally as one of the most prestigious non-profit organizations for identifying, mentoring and launching the careers of some of today’s greatest musicians. YCA alumni include such luminaries as Emanuel Ax, Mason Bates, Julia Bullock, Ray Chen, Sasha Cooke, Jeremy Denk, Richard Goode, Anne-Marie McDermott, Andrew Norman, Kevin Puts, the Modigliani and St. Lawrence String Quartets, Fazıl Say, Antoine Tamestit, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and many more.
Over the years she has guided the development and growth of hundreds of artists’ careers, providing critical guidance in areas such as career planning, repertoire selection, tour activities, acquiring and negotiating recording, licensing, and publishing contracts, implemented new initiatives, immigration issues for foreign artists, commissioning projects and collaborations, while providing resources to support musicians artistically as well as strategically, responding to an industry constantly in motion.
As trusted colleague of many of the world’s most influential artists, presenters, venues, festivals, cultural institutions, management agencies, competitions, media producers, and leading arts professionals throughout the world, Monica is a frequently sought-after panellist, moderator, and contributor to national and international industry conferences and journals on the many aspects of supporting and engaging dynamic emerging artists as well a. She has been on the jury for the Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg Competition, Boston Pops POPSSearch, and the Seattle Symphony Piano Competition where she collaborated in the design and implementation including criteria, policies, repertoire, and guidelines.
With a wealth of experience working with non-profit organizations for over 30 years, Monica’s knowledge base ranges from artistic direction and programming, artist management, concert, event and gala presentations, administration, finance, fundraising, publicity, marketing, Board relations, and Human Resources.
Monica was elected four consecutive times to the Board of Directors of the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA) serving from 2007-2018 and served as Vice President and President of the North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA) Board from 1998 - 2003. She has co-chaired the Arts Midwest Conference and served on the Professional Development and Conference committees for Arts Midwest, International Society of Performing Arts, and Western Arts Alliance.
A lapsed violist, and “super fan” of all string quartet repertoire, she currently serves on the Board of Greenwood Music Camp and co-chairs the Development Committee where donations to their annual fund and special projects have increased under her direction. Monica is also PADI certified Divemaster and spends as much time as she can hovering over coral reefs seeking out tiny critters.
