Jeffrey Haydon, President and CEO of Ravinia Festival

Jeffrey Haydon, President and CEO of Ravinia Festival

From CI to Eye with Monica Holt by Capacity Interactive

June 11, 2026 · 37 min

About this episode

Jeffrey Haydon discusses his leadership experiences at various music festivals and the unique cultural significance of these events.

A festival lasts only a few weeks or months each year, but the work of leading one never stops. Jeffrey Haydon has spent his career at the helm of some of the country's most respected music festivals, including Ojai, Caramoor, and now Ravinia Festival, where he serves as President and CEO. Drawing on a background that bridges music and business, he has led major capital projects, expanded educational and community programs, and navigated moments of organizational transformation. In this episode, Jeffrey reflects on what makes festivals such distinctive cultural institutions; the leadership lessons he's learned across three decades in arts management; and how Ravinia continues to balance its rich classical legacy with new audiences, artists, and ideas. ----- LINKS Ravinia Festival: https://www.ravinia.org/ Jim Collins: https://www.jimcollins.com/index.html

People in this episode

Host: Monica Holt

Guest: Jeffrey Haydon

Topics covered

  • music festivals
  • arts management
  • leadership
  • cultural institutions
  • community programs

Keywords

  • Ravinia Festival
  • Jeffrey Haydon
  • arts management
  • music festivals
  • leadership lessons

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ravinia Festival, Ojai, Caramoor

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