LISA HOITSMA

Lisa has been Executive Director of Gateway to the Arts since April of 2000, having perviously served as Associate Director of Young Audiences of Maryland since 1995.  Gateway to the Arts (GTA) is a non-profit arts in education organization serving public, private and parochial schools in 14 counties of western Pennsylvania.  In FY2005, over 100 performing and visual artists reached 110,000 students and educators through programs, residencies and professional development in-services for educators for grades pre-K through 12.  GTA is affiliated with the Lincoln Center Institute for Arts in Education in New York City.  Lisa has a BA from Hampshire College and a masters in performance New England Conservatory.  Her background is in music performance and teaching at the community college level.  She currently serves on the board of directors of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, the steering council of the Arts Education Collaborative, the program committee of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and the advisory boards of 21st Century Learning Centers (Sto-Rox, Clairton and Duquesne) and Boards-by-Design.