Zarin Mehta

{{short description|Indian-Canadian arts executive (born 1938)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Zarin Mehta | honorific_suffix = C.M. | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1938 |10|28}} | birth_place = Bombay, India | disappeared_date =  | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | monuments = | other_names = | citizenship = Canada, India | education = | alma_mater = | years_active = | organization = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | net_worth = | height =  | television = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | criminal_charge =  | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse = Carmen Lasky (m. 1966) | partner = | children = 2 | parents = Mehli Mehta<br/>Tehmina Daruvala | relatives = Zubin Mehta (brother)<br/>Bejun Mehta (distant relative) | callsign = | awards = Bravo award, Dominican Republic, 1996<br/>Arts Entrepreneurship award, Columbia College, 1997<br/>Dushkin award, Music Institute of Chicago, 1998. | signature = | signature_alt = | signature_size = | module = | module2 = | module3 = | module4 = | module5 = | module6 = | website =  | footnotes = <ref name=WhoWho>{{cite book |chapter=Zarin Mehta |title=The Complete Marquis Who's Who |publisher=Marquis Who's Who |year=2010 |access-date=6 Sep 2011 |url=http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=BIC2&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CK2020065705&mode=view&userGroupName=fairfax_main&jsid=0b28efc9246714f9706c7f4b745d75c9 |id=Gale Document Number: <nowiki>GALE|K2020065705</nowiki> |format=Fee, via Fairfax County Public Library}} Gale Biography In Context.</ref><ref name=NY_Phil_bio/> }} '''Zarin Mehta''' (born 28 October 1938) is an Indian-Canadian arts executive who served as the president and executive director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 2000 to 2012, in addition to various positions in the performing arts industry.

==Career== Mehta is a chartered accountant. During his career at the public accounting firm Coopers & Lybrand (1962-1981) in Montreal, he rose to partner. He was an accountant at Frederic B. Smart & Co., in London (1957-1962).<ref name=WhoWho/>

=== Montreal Symphony Orchestra === Mehta was managing director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1981 to 1990.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

=== Ravinia Festival === Mehta was named executive director of the Ravinia Festival in 1990 and later became president and CEO. During his 10-year tenure he pioneered the jazz festival within Ravinia and a world music series.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ravinia.org/History2.aspx |title=Ravinia Festival: About Us - History of Ravinia |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002155927/http://www.ravinia.org/History2.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== New York Philharmonic === Mehta was appointed New York Philharmonic executive director in September 2000 and received the additional role of president in June 2004.<ref name=NY_Phil_bio>{{cite web |access-date=2011-09-06 |url=http://nyphil.org/about/board_mehta.cfm |title=New York Philharmonic: President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta |archive-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103065459/http://nyphil.org/about/board_mehta.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was instrumental in securing the logistics for the 2008 New York Philharmonic visit to North Korea.<ref>{{Cite news | last= Demick | first= Barbara | url= http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-logistics27feb27,1,4007266.story?ctrack=1&cset=true | title= North Korea concert is a logistical feat | newspaper= LA Times | date= 27 February 2008 }}</ref>

On 27 September 2010 Mehta announced he would step down as president and chief executive of the New York Philharmonic when his contract expires after the 2011-2012 season, after having spent 12 years at the Philharmonic.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/arts/music/28orchestra.html |work=New York Times |title=New York Philharmonic Executive to Step Down |date=27 September 2010|first=Daniel J. |last=Wakin |access-date=2011-09-06}}</ref>

=== Sonoma State University === Mehta was named co-executive director of the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University in October 2013. Both artist Lang Lang and benefactor Sandy Weill were instrumental in his appointment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sonoma.edu/newscenter/2013/10/zarin-mehta-joins-green-music-center-to-set-artistic-vision.html|title=Zarin Mehta Joins Green Music Center to Set Artistic Vision|last=Wasp|first=Jean|date=31 October 2013|work=Sonoma State University News Center|access-date=27 March 2017|archive-date=28 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105514/http://www.sonoma.edu/newscenter/2013/10/zarin-mehta-joins-green-music-center-to-set-artistic-vision.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2222684-181/zarin-mehta-former-president-of?ref=related|title=Zarin Mehta, former president of New York Philharmonic, joins SSU's Green Music Center|last=Peterson|first=Diane|date=30 October 2013|work=The Press Democrat|access-date=27 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/arts/music/sanford-weill-lures-philharmonic-ex-chief-to-green-center.html|title=Zarin Mehta Is to Oversee a California Concert Hall|last=Pogrebin|first=Robin|date=30 October 2013|work=New York Times|access-date=27 March 2017}}</ref> President of the university, Judy K. Sakaki, announced in December 2016 that as part of a plan to restructure Green Music Center management, a single executive director will be hired to fulfill the duties of both Mehta and the interim co-executive director, Stan Nosek.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sonomastatestar.com/news/2017/2/20/search-on-for-new-gmc-executive-director|title=Search on for new GMC executive director|work=Sonoma State Star - The university's student-run newspaper|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en-US|archive-date=28 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328114143/http://www.sonomastatestar.com/news/2017/2/20/search-on-for-new-gmc-executive-director|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6435166-181/henry-hansel-named-chairman-of?artslide=0|title=Henry Hansel named chairman of Green Music Center board, replacing Sandy Weill|date=2016-12-14|work=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2222684-181/zarin-mehta-former-president-of|title=Zarin Mehta, former president of New York Philharmonic, joins SSU's Green Music Center|date=2013-10-31|website=Santa Rosa Press Democrat|language=en|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

Mehta's total pay and benefits during 2015 was $625,339.56.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2015/california-state-university/zarin-mehta/|title=Salary information for Zarin Mehta|website=Transparent California|language=en|access-date=2017-03-27}}</ref> In 2015, Mehta was identified as the highest earning employee of the California State University system.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/csu-672991-percent-california.html|title=CSU system continues to swell from administrative bloat|work=The Orange County Register|access-date=2017-03-27|language=en-US}}</ref> Mehta retired from Sonoma State in 2017.

==Personal== He is the brother of Zubin Mehta and son of the late Mehli Mehta, founder of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. He is married to Canadian soprano Carmen Lasky, who was previously married to his brother Zubin. He is of Parsi descent.

==Sources== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080706215038/http://centerstage.net/music/whoswho/ZarinMehta.html Center Stage.net]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehta, Zarin}} Category:Parsi people from Mumbai Category:Living people Category:1938 births Category:Indian emigrants to the United States Category:Indian emigrants to England Category:Indian emigrants to Canada Category:Canadian accountants Category:Members of the Order of Canada Category:American musicians of Indian descent Category:American people of Parsi descent Category:Canadian people of Parsi descent Category:Musicians from Mumbai Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada Zarin