Rachel S. Moore

President & CEO
The Music Center

Rachel S. Moore has dedicated her career – which began as a dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) under Mikhail Baryshnikov – to enriching lives through the arts. Since her appointment, Moore has spearheaded TMC’s transformation into a community-centric arts organization, focused on deepening the cultural engagement of all Angelenos.

Her vision has led to significant diversification: TMC’s Board of Directors now comprises 63% women and people of color (up from 6%), and her executive team is 70% women. Under her leadership, TMC dramatically increased its investment in free and low-cost public programming and arts education by 260%, from $4.3 million in FY2019 to $11.2 million in FY2024, now reaching over 400,000 individuals across L.A. County. Initiatives like the 20th-anniversary celebration of Dance DTLA and expanding programming to over 80 cities exemplify this commitment. Moore also provides arts education services to over 150,000 students and teachers annually.

Crucially, Moore has maintained TMC’s financial stability with balanced budgets since her arrival, adeptly navigating post-pandemic challenges. She has also leveraged TMC’s civic role, establishing it as a vital community resource and spearheading the development of a Grand Avenue cultural district to revitalize Downtown L.A., including the rejuvenation of Jerry Moss Plaza and Gloria Molina Grand Park.

Moore’s transformative leadership was previously evident as CEO of American Ballet Theatre. There, she launched Project Plié, a pioneering national initiative to increase diversity in professional ballet, implemented programs to enhance dancer well-being, and secured ABT’s designation as America’s National Ballet Company through a U.S. Congressional resolution. Even as a dancer, she championed equitable policies and supported fellow artists.

Her approach emphasizes collaboration, accessibility, and innovation, including technology-driven arts initiatives. Moore’s career, marked by a pivotal transition from professional dancer to arts leader following an injury, includes degrees from Brown University (A.B., Ethics & Political Philosophy) and Columbia University (M.A., Arts Management). She champions equity, notably spearheading the Executive Leadership in the Performing Arts Fellowship as chair of the Performing Arts Centers Consortium. Author of The Artist’s Compass, Moore was recently inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and received an honorary doctorate from the Colburn School.