Melissa Ngan, Founder

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Melissa Ngan cultivates personal and organizational growth through creative acts and collaborative practices.

During her 16-year tenure as Executive Director of Fifth House, Melissa drove the organization’s creative and training partnerships, and led curriculum design for the Fresh Inc Festival. She has spearheaded long-term projects with universities and conservatories nationwide that redefine the training process for emerging artists, including those at DePauw University and the Cleveland Institute of Music. She currently serves as President and CEO of the American Composers Orchestra, and as a board member of Fifth House Ensemble as its founder.

Her work with arts organizations results in bold new directions in arts integration and civic practice. With The Cleveland Orchestra, Melissa guided the creation of the Prometheus Project, which connected teaching artists, classroom teachers, and students at the Cleveland Institute of the Arts to explore Beethoven and Prometheus through the lens of the Hero’s Journey. Through co-created, cross-disciplinary curriculum in multiple classrooms, the project culminated in a curated performance at Severance Hall featuring student work illuminating stories of their personal heroes and the ways in which they envision using their own gifts to shape their future world. At San Francisco Opera, Melissa led a design team that launched Earn Your Wings, a long-term initiative spanning advocacy, learning experiences, performances, and community-building that connected the company to two organizations serving individuals and families transitioning from homelessness in the Bay Area.

A dynamic educator and coach, Melissa currently teaches music entrepreneurship and leadership courses at DePaul University, DePauw University, and the Eastman School of Music, and has presented at TEDx Michigan Ave, the Colburn School, New England Conservatory, Chamber Music America, College Music Society, and Opera America. Her writing has been featured on the Huffington Post.

Melissa’s performance career has included collaborations with GRAMMY-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux, Mediterranean folk band Baladino, GRAMMY-nominated composer Austin Wintory, and masters of Tuvan throat singing Alash. She has performed at National Sawdust, MAGFest, the FORMA Festival (Moscow), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), the Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. Melissa is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University, with principal teachers including Bonita Boyd and Walfrid Kujala. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys growing her own organic produce, and cooking her favorite dishes from her Brazilian/Cambodian heritage.

Click here to download Melissa’s headshot.

WORK AND PROJECTS

Positions

  • Executive Director, Fifth House Ensemble

  • Independent Consultant

Teaching

  • Arts Entrepreneurship Faculty, DePaul University

Projects

Speaking

Media

Press



Player, StaffBeth Beauchamp