Michael M. Kaiser, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is responsible for the artistic programming and financial health of the Center. Under Kaiser, the nation's center for the performing arts is increasing its broad educational efforts and establishing cross-disciplinary programming with opera, symphony, and dance. Kaiser has established the Vilar Institute for Arts Management and arranged for 10 annual visits from both the ballet and opera companies of St. Petersburg, Russia's Kirov/Mariinsky Theater, which began in 2002. The unprecedented Sondheim Celebration, with six productions of Stephen Sondheim's works during the summer of 2002, the exclusive United States presentation of the Bolshoi Ballet and Opera on a single stage, and a five-year annual commitment of visits from London's Royal Shakespeare Company are among Kaiser's programs. For 2003-04, Kaiser has planned multidisciplinary festivals celebrating composer P.I. Tchaikovsky, the arts of France, a festival presenting works of playwright Tennessee Williams, and the ongoing AmericArtes festival. He also works closely with the National Symphony Orchestra's Music Director Leonard Slatkin and the Board of Directors to provide leadership for an orchestra of renown in its own right, and as a prized partner in Kennedy Center activities.

In July 2003, Mr. Kaiser was named a Cultural Ambassador by the U.S. Department of State. In this capacity, he will advise performing arts organizations in many strategic areas around the world on building institutional strength through marketing, strategic planning and fundraising. Like the Center's existing Capacity Building Program, which currently involves 29 African-American, Latino, Asian American and Native American arts groups from around the United States, Mr. Kaiser's program will involve in-person seminars, strategic planning exercises, web-based discussions and group visits to the United States. A central element of both programs is the establishment of web-based network that allows arts groups to share project ideas, management techniques, and success stories.

Mr. Kaiser previously served as the Executive Director of the Royal Opera House, the largest performing arts organization in the United Kingdom with an annual operating budget of £50 million ($80 million). During his tenure with the Royal Opera House, that organization erased its historic accumulated deficit of £19 million, completed a £214 million redevelopment of the facility, created a £20 million endowment fund, and greatly increased its level of support from the private and public sectors. In addition to performances of opera and ballet in its main auditorium, the Royal Opera House now offers a full calendar of educational programs, numerous performances of chamber and new works in its 450-seat Linbury Studio Theatre, a series of experimental works in its Clore Studio, daily backstage tours, and guest appearances by more than 30 arts organizations. Performances are broadcast regularly on the BBC, an unprecedented relationship with the venerable broadcast organization that brings a substantial number of performances, master classes, and other programming to the BBC worldwide network.

Prior to joining the Royal Opera House, Mr. Kaiser was Executive Director of American Ballet Theatre. During his three-year tenure at ABT, Mr. Kaiser erased the entire historic accumulated deficit, created a second company, greatly expanded national and international touring activity, increased contributed and earned income substantially, and built an acclaimed series of education programs.

Mr. Kaiser has also served as Executive Director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Foundation, the world's largest modern dance organization. During his tenure, the Ailey company erased its accumulated deficit, expanded its school, and increased all forms of revenue. He has also served as Associate Director of the Pierpont Morgan Library where he initiated a major building expansion, and as General Manager of the Kansas City Ballet, he erased the company's deficit.

As a consultant to a variety of arts organizations Mr. Kaiser advised such institutions as The Jewish Museum, the Market Theatre (Johannesburg), Detroit Symphony, Glimmerglass Opera, and many others. He also represented the United States on a commission that established the Arts Council of the Republic of South Africa.

Before entering the arts management field, Mr. Kaiser was a management consultant in the corporate sector. In 1985, he sold the consulting firm he founded, Kaiser Associates, which specializes in helping large corporations formulate strategic plans. Among his clients were General Motors, IBM, Corning Glass Works and 50 other major corporations. Kaiser Associates remains a major participant in the strategy consulting field.

Mr. Kaiser has served as a research economist for Nobel prize-winning economist, Wassily Leontief, and is the author of three books: Strategic Planning in the Arts: A Practical Guide (1995); Developing Industry Strategies: A Practical Guide of Industry Analysis (1983), and Understanding the Competition: A Practical Guide of Competitive Analysis (1981).

Mr. Kaiser received his Master's degree in Management from M.I.T.'s Sloan School of Management and his Bachelor's degree in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, from Brandeis University. He has been an Adjunct Professor of Arts Administration at New York University, and a Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.