The Music Hall Announces Search Committee for Next President & CEO

November 14, 2025
By  

The Board of Trustees of The Music Hall today announced the formation of a search committee, made up of Portsmouth community leaders, staff and volunteers, to lead the process of identifying the organization’s next President & CEO.

Co-chaired by Board members Megan Davis and Ed Morrell, the committee will engage an external firm to support a comprehensive, national search for the organization’s next President & CEO. The selection process for an external firm is underway, with the goal of appointing a new leader by Q2 2026.

In her comments about the ongoing search, Jude Blake, The Music Hall’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, states that, “The Music Hall is committed to approaching this with urgency and care. Trust from our community is paramount to our core values of inclusivity and accountability. For this reason, we formed a committee of community members who bring deep experience and a shared commitment to The Music Hall’s future.”

Additional committee members include Board Members Cynthia Fenneman and Brendan Vesey, community members Jamey French and Ceal Anderson, and Music Hall employee James Paone, whose extensive knowledge of The Music Hall and its mission will ensure the approach remains true to the organization’s vision. Updates will be shared with the community as the selection process advances.

About The Music Hall:
Since 1987, The Friends of The Music Hall, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, has upheld its mission: to present diverse, high-quality arts programming as a vital cultural hub for the Seacoast community. Today, The Music Hall continues to enrich Portsmouth’s cultural fabric with world-class entertainment by generating over $15M in economic impact to the downtown economy.


About The Music Hall Search Committee:

  • Committee Co-Chair Megan Davis is Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, with over 30 years of experience leading across the public and private sectors. She also serves as Chief Talent Officer & Executive Vice President at Catalyst Campaign Partners.
  • Committee Co-Chair Ed Morrell is a Board Member and Chief Business Officer of Music and Event Management, Inc. He has decades of hands-on leadership across venues, talent and complex projects.
  • Cynthia Fenneman is Vice Chair of the Board and President Emeritus of American Public Television. Her career spans four decades of commercial, cable and public broadcasting experience.
  • Brendan Vesey is a Trustee of The Music Hall, chef owner of Botanica Restaurant and Gin Bar and local educator at Great Bay Community College.
  • Jamey French is a community leader, President and CEO of Northland Forest Products, Inc. and founding Vice Chair and Trustee Emeritus of The Music Hall.
  • James Paone is the Director of Programming for The Music Hall. He has over 8 years of experience managing events and rentals at The Music Hall’s venues and will represent the voice of staff during the search process.
  • Ceal Anderson is a community leader with extensive experience in the non-profit sphere, including as a Proprietor and committee co-chair at the Portsmouth Athenaeum. She is a Music Hall volunteer and will represent TMH’s volunteer community during the search.