About Laura
I am an arts and non-profit leader and producer based in Southern Ontario who has successfully directed organizations and projects in the cultural and public sectors for more than 25 years.
I am an arts and non-profit leader and producer based in Southern Ontario who has successfully directed organizations and projects in the cultural and public sectors for more than 25 years.
Strengthening communities through powerful partnerships
Through my consulting business, The Adlers Agency, I collaborate with and lead cultural and non-profit organizations in interim management, operational assessment and strategic planning, fundraising and development, artistic administration, special event and tour production, and cross-cultural projects.
In March 2025, I joined the leadership team of The Burlington Performing Arts Centre in the newly created position of Manager of Development and Partnerships and look forward to building powerful partnerships in the cultural and business communities of Halton Region.
In 2020, I was appointed an Officer of the Cross of Recognition by the Republic of Latvia for my many years of service and achievements in promoting Latvian culture and artists internationally.
In 2015, I earned a Masters of Management in International Arts Management (MMIAM) through studies at HEC Montréal, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá and SDA Bocconi University in Milan. During these studies, I met with arts leaders and studied arts management practices in all disciplines on a global scale. For two years, I was the editor of “The MMIAM Journey”, the graduate program’s blog, which featured my interviews with international arts leaders and alumni from the MMIAM program.
Cross-Cultural Collaboration Through Choral Singing
A life-long choral singer, I am internationally recognized as an award-winning administrator of community and professional choirs, particularly in Canada and Latvia. For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about cross-cultural collaboration, most notably through my work with Canadian and Latvian choirs, composers and conductors, but also through my involvement in the planning of and participation in international tours and festivals.
Current and past clients include:
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- Luminous Voices (Timothy Shantz, Calgary)
- The Elora Singers and Elora Festival (Mark Vuorinen, Elora)
- the State Choir LATVIJA (Māris Sirmais, Riga)
- Pax Christi Chorale (Stephanie Martin, Toronto)
- Orpheus Choir of Toronto (Robert Cooper, Toronto)
- Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto (Lydia Adams, Toronto)
- and the Latvian Youth Choir BALSIS (Ints Teterovskis, Riga)
I have been instrumental in raising the profiles of amateur and professional Latvian choirs on the world stage, producing nine international tours for BALSIS from 2009-2014, co-producing Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Nordic Light Tour in Ontario with Robert Cooper and the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and producing the State Choir LATVIJA’s debut Canadian tour in 2019.
Promoting Latvian culture – one story, one choir, one song at a time
In May 2025, I will lead a tour of Canadian conductors and composers to Latvia and Estonia to learn about and experience the unique dynamics that define Baltic choral traditions as a UNESCO-recognized part of the nations’ cultural identities. Canadian delegates will also present lectures and reading sessions to their Latvian counterparts, forging new cross-cultural partnerships for the future.
One of my creative passions is translating Latvian literature to English. I am a regular contributor to the award-winning Latvian Literature platform based in Riga and recently translated my first novel.
For a detailed employment history, visit my Linked In profile.
I was pleased to collaborate with Laura Adlers on several ambitious projects, most notably Laura’s co-production with Robert Cooper and the well-known Orpheus Choir of Toronto’s “Nordic Light Tour” over a two-week period, featuring the Canadian premiere of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ “Nordic Light” multimedia symphony, the Canadian premiere documentary film of the making of this work, and the composer and his publisher Musica Baltica touring to Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Montreal and Ottawa to present workshops to local music students and choirs and promote Latvian choral music.
This was one of several cultural projects Laura was involved with as part of the Centennial anniversary of the Republic of Latvia celebrations in 2018. None of these projects would have been possible without her many connections and her sound understanding of the value of cross-cultural collaboration and strategic engagement.
In 2020, Laura was appointed an Officer of the Cross of Recognition by the Republic of Latvia for her many years of service in this capacity.
I want to thank Laura for all she has done to help both our organizations move forward with our strategic agenda in unimagined circumstances. To stay active in lockdowns is a great achievement. To move forward strategically in those circumstances is incredible. While it has taken a team to do this, Laura has been both glue and guide and for that I am truly grateful. Thank you, Laura for your leadership over the past 3.5 years!
Laura was instrumental in launching the artsVest™ National program in 2011 and has initiated and developed successful and myriad partnerships with multiple stakeholders across the corporate, public and cultural sectors. She developed a community relations and outreach strategy to promote the program across Canada and spoke at multiple conferences on the impact of the program.
I have always admired Laura’s distinct passion and sensitivity to arts and culture. Her business acumen in relationship building is unmatched. She is a flawless writer and her public speaking skills are incredibly solid. Laura’s experience, talents and positive disposition would be an asset to any organization!