Peninsula Music Festival Promotes Lisa Harper to President and CEO

Leadership transition marks a new era of growth and community collaboration for Door County’s international philharmonic orchestra.

Door County, Wis. (March 23, 2026) —The Peninsula Music Festival (PMF) has announced the promotion of Lisa Harper to President and CEO, recognizing her leadership in strengthening the organization and guiding its continued growth as one of the Midwest’s premier classical music festivals. Harper, who has served as Executive Director since 2024, steps into her expanded role as a passionate advocate for both the organization and the Door County community. She will now lead the beloved organization into its 74th season with a renewed focus on strategic growth, regional collaboration, and artistic excellence.

Harper grew up in the Chicago suburbs, introduced to Door County by her mother, a Milwaukee native. She and her husband Michael — an artist and President of Ephraim’s Hardy Gallery — vacationed here for thirty years before making it their permanent home in 2015. When a seat on the PMF board brought her closer to the organization, she was captivated — not just by the music, but by its history and its potential.

“I began my relationship with PMF as a board member and was moved by the story of the five women who founded it, its importance to the community, and of course its potential,” said Harper. “It was clear that COVID had impacted the PMF negatively, and I wanted to be part of the team working hard to maximize its potential.”

During her tenure, Harper has helped guide the organization’s continued recovery and growth following the challenges of the pandemic. A co-founder of a global leadership consulting and executive coaching organization, Harper spent her career growing the potential of people, teams, and organizations across the for-profit, nonprofit, education, government, and entertainment sectors. She brought that same philosophy to PMF — working alongside Music Director and Conductor Rune Bergmann to rebuild the organization in the wake of the pandemic and position it for a bold future.

“Lisa has brought extraordinary vision, leadership, and energy to the Peninsula Music Festival,” said Bergmann. “Her ability to combine strategic thinking with a deep love for music and community has helped position PMF for a vibrant future. I am thrilled to continue working with her as we grow the festival’s reach and impact.”

“Rune and I are building on a strong foundation,” Harper said. “The PMF’s roots are deep in providing world-class orchestral music in one of America’s most beautiful and artistically relevant communities. That shouldn’t and won’t change. But like any arts organization, we must continue to evolve — to attract a wider audience and ensure our programming is aligned with changing musical tastes.”

Her vision for PMF is expansive: to delight the festival’s core patrons while expanding its reach to regional, national, and international audiences, and to find new opportunities to collaborate with Door County’s rich network of arts organizations. But for Harper, the work is also deeply personal. As a full-time resident, she feels the weight and the privilege of that responsibility every day.

“I care profoundly about this community and the joy the Peninsula Music Festival brings to people here,” she said. “Not only in August, but year-round — including events like our annual FebFest each February. Even in the middle of winter, I’m stopped in coffee shops and asked what’s new with PMF. That kind of enthusiasm reminds me every day how important the arts are to this community.”

What she loves most about the job, she says, is the people — from Maestro Bergmann (“gifted, knowledgeable, and as much fun in person as he is on stage”) to the more than 100 musicians in the orchestra, the devoted board, the PMFSC (Sustaining Committee), and the patrons who fill the Door Community Auditorium each August with their enthusiasm. She has also had the honor of meeting some of the finest musicians in the world — Dame Evelyn Glennie, Branford Marsalis, and this season, James Ehnes, Michelle Cann, Stewart Goodyear, and Michelle DeYoung.

While she enjoys all the perks of being part of one of the most treasured music festivals in the Midwest, Harper’s focus remains on the people who make the music possible.

“There is a great sense of wonder when Maestro Bergmann and our musicians begin to play,” Harper said. “Watching that communication between the stage and our patrons is deeply moving. My goal is to expand that reach to national and international audiences while finding even more ways to collaborate with our fellow Door County arts organizations.”

When asked how she would describe PMF to someone who had never experienced it, Harper didn’t hesitate.

“It’s witnessing a world-class conductor weave a tapestry of talented orchestral musicians, the most beautiful music ever written, and an appreciative audience in iconic Door County.”

As she steps into her new title, Harper’s message to the community and donors who make it all possible is clear: “Peninsula Music Festival is Door County’s international philharmonic orchestra. We offer the highest quality orchestral experience made possible by the generosity of our community and donors. Our 74th season celebrates the return of beloved soloists as well as musicians new to the DCA stage. Get ready for an extraordinary season.”

About Lisa Harper Lisa Harper is President and CEO of the Peninsula Music Festival. She co-founded and managed a global leadership consulting and executive coaching organization, working with clients across the for-profit, nonprofit, education, government, and entertainment sectors. She has served on dozens of boards and committees and is currently a board member of the Women’s Fund of Door County. She and her husband Michael, an artist and Chairman of Ephraim’s Hardy Gallery, are full-time Door County residents. They have five grown children and two spoiled dogs.

About the Peninsula Music Festival Founded in 1953 by five visionary women, the Peninsula Music Festival is one of the Midwest’s most treasured classical music traditions. Now in its 74th season, PMF brings an extraordinary ensemble of world-class musicians to the Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek, Wisconsin each August, delivering the caliber of performances typically found only in the world’s great concert halls — right in the heart of Door County.