THE MUSIC CENTER APPOINTS THREE DISTINGUISHED CIVIC AND CULTURAL LEADERS TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE MUSIC CENTER APPOINTS THREE DISTINGUISHED CIVIC AND CULTURAL LEADERS TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cástulo de la Rocha, Stephen Macias and Elizabeth Michelson Bring Decades of Leadership in Healthcare, Inclusion and Philanthropy to Help Guide L.A.'s Performing Arts Center

LOS ANGELES (August 3, 2026) - The Board of Directors of The Music Center today announced the appointment of three esteemed leaders to The Music Center Board: President & CEO Cástulo de la Rocha, AltaMed Health Services; Global Inclusion & Impact Lead and Chief Inclusion Partner Stephen Macias, Octagon; and Elizabeth Michelson, who has independently served on the Board since 2009 and who will now serve as the designee on the Board for The Blue Ribbon, The Music Center's premier women's support organization, in her capacity as its newly elected president. Their combined expertise in healthcare, community development, public service, philanthropy and inclusion will help lead The Music Center's continued evolution as one of the nation's most prominent performing arts institutions. The Music Center presents world-class dance performances and dancing experiences, nationally recognized K-12 arts learning programs, digital arts experiences and free and low-cost public concerts and events. Additionally, The Music Center manages an expansive campus across Downtown L.A., including four theatres, Jerry Moss Plaza and Gloria Molina Grand Park on behalf of the County of Los Angeles.

"The Music Center has always been shaped by leaders who believe the performing arts have the power to strengthen communities, broaden perspectives and bring people together," said Robert J. Abernethy, chair of The Music Center's Board of Directors. "We are delighted to welcome Cástulo de la Rocha, Stephen Macias and Elizabeth Michelson to The Music Center's Board of Directors. Each has dedicated their career to serving others, whether through healthcare, community leadership, inclusion or philanthropy, and each understands the essential role the arts play in enriching lives. Their expertise and passion will help us build on The Music Center's legacy and take on new and bold ways to inspire audiences, uplift artists and expand access to the performing arts throughout Los Angeles."

Cástulo de la Rocha, president & CEO of AltaMed Health Services, is a visionary healthcare leader and longtime advocate for equity, access and community well-being. A proud Angeleno, de la Rocha brings his same commitment to civic leadership to The Music Center's Board of Directors. Throughout his career, de la Rocha has recognized that health encompasses more than medical care alone-it also includes the joy, hope and human connections found through music, dance and artistic expression. He views the performing arts as an essential part of building vibrant, healthy communities where people from every background can see themselves reflected and celebrated. He believes cultural institutions should be welcoming and accessible to all and is inspired by The Music Center's efforts to reach beyond its stages and into communities across Los Angeles. He is passionate about ensuring that everyone, especially young people encountering the performing arts for the first time, feels welcomed and represented, and knows that L.A.'s performing arts center is a place where they belong. He also serves as a board member of the Museum of Latin American Arts and the Latino Victory Fund. He is a member of The Music Center's Founders and a former board member of Center Theatre Group. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law; his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and his certificate in management from Stanford University. For the past 30 years, de la Rocha has assembled the AltaMed Art Collection, which champions the works of emerging and established artists who reflect the history, achievements and struggles of underserved communities.

As Global Inclusion & Impact Lead and Chief Inclusion Partner at Octagon, Stephen Macias leads inclusion and impact strategy for one of the world's largest sports and entertainment marketing and talent management agencies. Macias and his team focus on programs designed to make the workplace reflective of the diverse communities that Octagon does business in-from North America and Africa, to Europe and the Asia-Pacific marketplace. Octagon's Inclusion and Impact work is designed to deliver best in class agency support to some of the largest consumer brands in the world. He has built a distinguished career advancing authentic engagement across the LGBTQ+ community, communities of color and female-focused initiatives in worldwide sports, entertainment and culture. A lifelong advocate for the performing arts, Macias credits his high school's performing arts programs with providing him a sense of belonging and community at a young age while growing up in Fresno, Calif. Those experiences instilled in him a lasting belief that the arts serve as a powerful vehicle for storytelling, cultural expression and human connection. Macias, a proud Mexican American and grandson of immigrant farmworkers, is passionate about ensuring that diverse cultures and lived experiences are reflected and celebrated on stage and in public spaces. As a newly inducted member of The Music Center's Board of Directors, Macias looks forward to championing emerging artistic voices from Los Angeles and Southern California while helping ensure The Music Center continues to be a destination where creativity, culture and community come together to inspire, connect and foster belonging for all Angelenos. Early in his career, Macias founded Macias Media Group LLC and grew the agency into one of the top boutique public relations firms specifically targeting the LGBTQ community. He also spent eight years as executive vice president and general manager for Here Media Inc., overseeing iconic media brands, including The Advocate and Out magazines, and served as entertainment media director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Macias has been a Board member of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Outfest, The Victory Fund, Equality California Institute and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. He also served on the City of Los Angeles' Cultural Affairs Commission and as an advisor to the U.S. State Department's Global Equality Fund. Macias has been lived in Hollywood for almost 25 years.

Elizabeth Michelson, who has independently served on The Music Center Board of Directors for 17 years as a member-at-large, now becomes a designee on the Board in her capacity as the newly elected president of The Blue Ribbon, the premier women's support organization of The Music Center. She leads a dedicated community of women volunteers committed to advancing arts education, volunteerism and philanthropic support for L.A.'s performing arts center. Michelson believes that access to education, including arts education, is fundamental to building vibrant communities and enriching lives. She is dedicated to ensuring future generations have opportunities to experience the arts, discover their creativity and benefit from the educational and cultural programs that have defined The Music Center's mission for more than six decades. Her connection to L.A.'s performing arts center began through the Club 100 donor group, and her support deepened through The Music Center's education department. She has served on The Blue Ribbon board of directors, The Music Center Foundation Board and as a member-at-large of The Music Center Board. Now, as president of The Blue Ribbon, she is focused on expanding its membership and growing its newly established endowment fund to provide lasting financial support for The Music Center's signature artistic and education programs, including The Music Center's Spotlight and Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center. Raised in Dallas, Texas, Michelson developed a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts through her family, who regularly attended cultural performances and instilled in her a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts. She earned a degree in art history from Princeton University and holds an MBA from Columbia University. Michelson resides in Beverly Hills with her husband Leslie.

ABOUT THE MUSIC CENTER
As L.A.'s performing arts center, The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of deepening the cultural lives of every resident in Los Angeles County. The $80 million non-profit performing arts organization has two divisions: TMC Arts and TMC Ops. TMC Arts, The Music Center's programming engine, provides year-round programming inside The Music Center's four theatres, on Jerry Moss Plaza, outside at Gloria Molina Grand Park-a 12-acre adjacent green space-in schools and other locations all over Los Angeles County. TMC Arts presents world-class dance with Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, participatory dancing experiences, free and low-cost public concerts and events, live and digital K-12 arts education programs, workshops, performances, interactive experiences and special events. TMC Ops manages the theatres, the Plaza and Gloria Molina Grand Park, which comprise $3 billion in county assets, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles. The Music Center is also home to four renowned resident companies-Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil. For more information, visit musiccenter.org. Follow The Music Center on social media @MusicCenterLA.