For the past four years, Todd Schultz has been the heartbeat of La Jolla Music Society (LJMS), leading as President and CEO with a deep passion for the performing arts. With decades of experience at The Old Globe, San Diego Opera, LA Opera, and the San Diego Symphony, Schultz is doing more than just running an arts organization – he is shaping a space where music brings people together in powerful ways.
At the core of his leadership is a belief in connection. To Schultz, success is just as much about sold-out performances as it is about creating a vibrant, collaborative community. Whether it is engaging with staff, board members, artists, or audiences, he seeks to foster an open dialogue where creativity thrives, and where live performances are not just heard – they are felt.
He has big dreams for The Conrad, LJMS’s stunning venue in downtown La Jolla. He wants it to be the first place San Diegans think of when they crave a truly moving experience – whether that is the intimacy of a chamber music concert, the high energy of a jazz performance, or a thought-provoking speaker series that sparks new ideas.
Schultz’s own love for music started in an unlikely place: a farm in Kansas. As a kid, he stumbled upon classical music through public radio, listening to Saturday afternoon Metropolitan Opera broadcasts crackling through the speakers while driving the tractor. That spark of curiosity ignited a lifelong passion – one that now fuels his mission at LJMS.
But for Schultz, it is about more than music. It is about people. He believes the arts should be welcoming and accessible to everyone, which is why community engagement is at the heart of LJMS. From partnering with local organizations to making sure relationship-building efforts reach diverse audiences, he is committed to fostering a sense of belonging.
One of the initiatives closest to his heart is the free after-school music program in Barrio Logan, which has been running for 25 years. Students in their new mariachi program recently won first place in Sacramento at the California State Fair Youth Mariachi Competition. Seeing young students discover their own love of music and watching their confidence grow as they master an instrument are the moments that remind him why this work matters.
This season at LJMS is packed with unforgettable performances, from the innovative sounds of Third Coast Percussion, to Les Arts Florissants’ mesmerizing take on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, to a vibrant celebration of Mexican culture with Ballet Folklórico de México, and much more.
Under Schultz’s leadership, La Jolla Music Society has truly become a hub of San Diego’s cultural life. Schultz is working to build an atmosphere where music is something you both hear and feel – something that connects people and stays with them long after the final note. Whether it is the music, the moment, or the shared experience, Schultz ensures that every time someone steps into The Conrad, they are part of something special.
