Guido Houben

Guido Houben has worked intensively in music and public administration.

As Executive Director of the Bach Festival (2004-2007) he built and led his team to eliminate all old debts, to triple revenues, to broaden the donor and audience base and to introduce efficient organizational structures. Besides the Bach Festival, he has been working with Washington National Opera and the Youth Orchestra of the Americas.

For several years, he oversaw the federal cultural budget as political analyst of a German congressman. He founded and conducted the German Parliament’s orchestra and is an experienced event manager and concert agent.

After completing his Masters degree at the conservatories of Mannheim-Heidelberg and Novosibirsk as well as at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut he pursued a doctorate in political science in Berlin and went to Harvard to focus on finance and strategic management for nonprofit organizations.

He possesses a distinct sense of humor, an abandoned-looking personal website, and a collection of over 150 versions of his favorite jazz standard “How High the Moon”.