Meet Jesus Martinez | Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jesus Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jesus, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I would say that the most important factor behind the success of Emerge is the relationships that have been cultivated within the musicians, the board of directors, and the community it serves. The trust and respect that we show one another, while being open and honest about the future and direction of Emerge has allowed our organization to thrive. The character of Emerge and its leaders is evident at our concerts and interactions with audience and community members. At Emerge, the relationships with musicians and the composers we have worked with have allowed us to build strong foundations in both the personal and professional field.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
EMERGE Coalition, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization in Dallas, TX. Partnered with the Ensemble-in-residence, the Julius String Quartet, EMERGE launched three virtual workshop and concerts for budding composers across the world. In our opening season, EMERGE worked and performed the works of over thirty composers worldwide. In addition to our educational project, EMERGE also launched a Modern Master’s Concert series with the Julius Quartet. At the start of our 2021 concert series, “Off the Beaten Path,” EMERGE launched the first concert of the series titled “Anthem and Aria” at two different locations: The Bath House Cultural Center in Dallas, TX, and the second, at Bentwood Trail Presbyterian Church in Plano. The concert featured the works of Caroline Shaw, Steve Mackey, and Ludwig Van Beethoven. At EMERGE, we are so proud to be a performing arts organization that offers a uniquely diverse concert programming catered to our audience and community members. EMERGE has certainly had its challenges as a new organization founded during the global pandemic in 2020. The board of directors at EMERGE were able to strategize and brainstorm on unique ideas to launch our organization during a time that many nonprofit organizations were shutting down. A few lessons we have learned along the way have been always keeping honest and ongoing open communication between the board of directors, diversifying our programming to fit the needs of our ensemble and community members, and splitting responsibilities fair and equally so that we are all contributing towards the health of the organization. EMERGE wants the world to know that we are here to stay. We will continue to challenge and excite the City of Dallas with challenging and meaningful music and arts programming to audience members. EMERGE aims to foster, develop, and engage in the arts community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of the places we would take our best friend that was visiting the area are: The Bath House Cultural Center, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the Bishop Arts District, and the Nasher Sculpture Center, to name a few. Mi Cocina is a bit of a staple in Dallas with their famous Mambo Taxis. Downtown Dallas is filled with amazing museums, performing ensembles at the Meyerson, such as Dallas Symphony, as well as the amazing programming at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and of course, the Dallas Opera. There is always something amazing to catch in Downtown Dallas.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Southern Methodist University Meadows School of Music, West Plano Presbyterian Church, Bentwood Trail Presbyterian Church, BMI Foundation, were all instrumental in the support of our organization’s upstart.

Website: www.emergeci.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emergecoalitioninc

Facebook: www.facebook.com/emergeci

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfjiFUaKVUs9XmWaym_uCmg