Please see ECMA Board of Directors MESSAGE to members.
Dear Members,We're not going to sugarcoat it—this has been a really difficult time for ECMA. There's been frustration, division, and a lot of unanswered questions. You've asked us to be transparent and to listen, and we know we haven't done enough of either. So, we want to be real with you.
We made the decision to part ways with our former CEO because by December 2024, we saw serious risks to the ECMA event. There was lost institutional knowledge, decisions being made without Board approval, and legal risks we couldn't ignore. At that point, we had to act to get things back on track. And, as unfortunate as it is, we had to accept a difficult choice. We recognize and regret that the way
we handled it left members feeling blindsided. That's on us.
We own the fact that leadership is a two-way street. The Board's role isn't just oversight—it's also providing support, guidance, and accountability. We have asked ourselves: did we do everything we could to set the former CEO up for success? The honest answer is, no. We take responsibility for that. That doesn't mean we don't stand by our decision, but it does mean we need to be better moving forward, and know what we need to do in finding the next leader of the ECMA.
We know many of you are upset. For a lot of members, the former CEO made you feel seen and heard, and that space for open conversations has felt missing in the wake of this decision. That was never our intention, and we recognize how important it is to rebuild that trust. ECMA has to be a place where every person and community within our membership has a voice, and we're committing to making sure that happens.
At the same time, we cannot let this moment take away from the incredible work of our artists. We are fully prepared for the event in St. John's, and there is no way we would let it be in jeopardy. Our team, volunteers, and partners have been working around the clock to make sure this is a moment to celebrate East Coast music—and we need to come together to make that happen.
We're not perfect. We don't have all the answers. But what we do have is a deep commitment to making ECMA better—not just for this event, but for you, our members, and for the long term. That starts with listening, learning, and working together.
Let's move forward, together.