Honor Bestowed

By Sandy Balayan

March 2026

It was recently announced that our own Lesley Rosenthal was honored as one of Musical America Worldwide’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year. The publication annually honors administrators, educators and other people in the arts for their service and leadership. “It is a privilege to be able to serve in meaningful leadership roles, alongside outstanding colleagues, at this pivotal moment for the arts. I proudly stand with my other honored colleagues and thank them for their collegiality and for exemplifying the excellence for which we all strive,” remarked Lesley in response to her honor.

As Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary of the legendary Juilliard School in New York City, Lesley is both honored and excited to be among the winners of this prestigious award. The Otis Observer has written about Lesley in the past, and she is a well-known member of our community. Along with Larry Southard, Terry Hall (better known as Terry A La Berry), Andy Gordon and Mike Patoniak, Lesley brings her considerable talents on stage as she fiddles with Papa and Friends, a local rock-country-folk band playing gigs around the area. “I love being part of the band and connecting with the community in a new way. Playing at our local restaurant/bar, the Knox Trail Inn, feels like going home,” says Lesley. And your neighbors are equally pleased to be the recipients of the band’s magic.

This summer, Lesley will be teaching a series of Adult Education classes on Friday mornings in July and August at the Tanglewood Learning Center. Information about her course can be found in the Summer Season section of the BSO website. “There will be seven sessions of a course I created entitled Arts and the Rule of Law. The Rule of Law is an important concept underpinning our American democracy. Learning about checks and balances, anti-corruption, fundamental rights, and an independent judiciary–and connecting these ideals to musical works–is a perfect class for art lovers and advocates of democracy. Her husband, the jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal, will also be performing a tribute to the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane this summer on July 26th at Ozawa Hall. Find information on the Tanglewood/BSO website (https://www.bso.org/tanglewood).

“It is a true gift to work in the arts, bringing people together and providing outlets for creativity. Arts at every level heal the soul and foster productive ways to connect to each other. The arts play a crucial role in our civic life, from local bands to high schools ensembles to amateur theatre troupes and to Broadway, opera houses and museums around the world. Music is a universal language of connection.”

Congratulations to Lesley from the Otis Observer staff and from our community for bringing this honor home.