Renner brings 24 years of global arts and culture fundraising expertise as the Symphony enters a new phase of endowment-driven growth
HOUSTON, TX (April 22, 2025)— The Houston Symphony today announced the appointment of Jennifer Renner as its new Chief Development Officer, effective June 2025. Renner, a native of Kentucky, joins the organization from Cape Town Opera, where she currently serves as Head of Development. She brings a track record of exceptional fundraising leadership across the U.S. and abroad, and her appointment comes at a pivotal moment as the Symphony advances into the second year of implementing its Strategic Plan 2030—a bold, five-year initiative focused on artistic excellence and long-term sustainability.
Renner will lead the Symphony’s fundraising team responsible for over $22 million in annual fundraising, and will spearhead efforts to grow the Symphony’s endowment, expand major gifts, and deepen relationships with donors throughout Houston and beyond.
“I worked with Jennifer during my time at the National Symphony Orchestra and know her to be among the most effective and strategic fundraising leaders in the field,” said Houston Symphony Executive Director/CEO and holder of the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Gary Ginstling. “She is a seasoned leader who combines deep experience with major institutions and a personal passion for the arts that will be instrumental as we advance the Houston Symphony’s vision for the future. I’m thrilled to welcome her to our leadership team.”
Renner brings nearly 25 years of development experience across opera, orchestral music, and the broader arts sector. At Cape Town Opera, she significantly expanded donor engagement and increased individual giving revenue by more than 75% during her tenure. Prior to that, she served as Chief Development Officer for the National Symphony Orchestra at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., leading a team that raised $12.5 million annually for the NSO and additional funds for Kennedy Center campaigns.
Renner also held senior leadership roles at the Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and National Portrait Gallery and served as International Director of Development at Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala. Her consulting experience includes development advisory roles with Performing Arts Houston and the King Hussein Cancer Foundation in Amman, Jordan.
“The Houston Symphony is a top American orchestra and a crown jewel of this city,” said Renner. “To join this remarkable organization at such a transformational moment under Gary Ginstling’s visionary leadership is a tremendous honor. I look forward to working with Houston’s philanthropic community to build on the Symphony’s momentum and help shape a sustainable and inspiring future for generations to come.”
Renner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (voice) and a minor in Business Administration from the University of Louisville. She and her husband, career U.S. diplomat Mark Kelly, will relocate to Houston with their two sons, Luke and Jack.
About the Houston Symphony
Under the leadership of Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony continues to inspire and engage diverse audiences in Houston and beyond with exceptional musical performances and enduring community impact. The Symphony held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Now in its second century as one of America’s premier orchestras, the Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas and remains a cultural cornerstone of the region.
With an annual operating budget of $40.7 million, the Symphony presents over 130 concerts each year, making it one of the largest performing arts organizations in Texas. Its reach extends far beyond the concert hall, delivering more than 600 performances annually at schools, community centers, hospitals, and other venues, engaging over 160,000 people throughout Greater Houston.
The Symphony's innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic—completing its 2020-21 Season with in-person audiences and weekly livestreams—earned national recognition and the ASCAP Foundation’s Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Broadcast/Media Award. Its commitment to innovation continues, with its 2024-25 Season reaching audiences in over 45 countries and all 50 states via livestreaming, making it one of the few American orchestras to sustain such global digital engagement.
Renowned for its artistry, the Symphony has a distinguished recording legacy under prestigious labels, including Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, and Pentatone. Highlights include a Grammy and ECHO Klassik Award-winning live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck and recent releases such as Jimmy López Bellido’s Aurora and Ad Astra (2022) and Jennifer Higdon’s Duo Duel (2023).
The Symphony’s educational impact is equally remarkable, with its Harry and Cora Sue Mach Student Concert Series reaching over 50,000 students annually. Its In Harmony after-school program and partnerships with institutions like the Houston Methodist Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Texas Children’s Hospital further demonstrate the Symphony’s commitment to fostering community connections and accessibility to the arts.
With a vision centered on artistic excellence, community engagement, and accessibility, the Houston Symphony remains a cultural leader in Houston and a global ambassador for the transformative power of music.
For more information, please contact
Eric Skelly, eric.skelly@houstonsymphony.org
Jessica Henderson, jessica@theckpgroup.com