82nd Annual Meeting and William J. Clothier II Award

Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1963, Ambassador Forster graduated from the Brazilian Diplomatic Academy (Instituto Rio Branco) in 1986. As a diplomat, he served in Canada, Costa Rica, and the United States, where he was posted three times to the Embassy in Washington, as well as to the Brazilian consulates in Hartford (CT) and New York (NY). His diplomatic experience covers areas such as trade negotiations, intellectual property, financial policy, political affairs, international law, consular affairs, administration, and information technology.

After starting his career in consular affairs, Forster was posted twice to the Office of the President of Brazil (1990-92 and 2002), having also served as chief of staff at the Office of the Attorney General. Most recently, he headed the Foreign Ministry’s Information Technology Division. Ambassador Forster has led numerous Brazilian delegations to regional and multilateral meetings.

In 2006, Nestor Forster successfully concluded his high studies dissertation on “Development Finance” at the Rio Branco diplomatic academy. He also co-authored the Official Style Guide of Brazil’s federal administration, in use for almost 30 years, and participated in the first institutionalized Brazilian presidential transition team in 2002, which resulted in the book “Transition and Democracy: institutionalizing the transferring of power.” He has also appeared as guest speaker at Columbia University, Toronto University, University of Alberta, Université Laval à Montreal, and Instituto Rio Branco.

Ambassador Forster was the Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Brazil in Washington from June 2019 to October 2020. He is the Ambassador of Brazil to the United States of America since October 2020.

Nestor Forster is married to Maria Theresa Forster. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Recipient of the William J. Clothier II Award

Matías Tarnopolsky
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc.

In December 2021, Matías Tarnopolsky was appointed president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Center, Inc., a visionary partnership that brings the greatest performances and most impactful education and community programs to audiences in Philadelphia and beyond. The groundbreaking new organization reimagines the power of the arts to bring joy, create community, and effect change—to uplift all Philadelphians. 

Tarnopolsky served as president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association, beginning in August 2018. Described in the Philadelphia Inquirer as a “quiet revolutionary,” he has—in partnership with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra—accelerated change toward a more equitable, inclusive, and engaged organization. By enriching programming with works of BIPOC musicians, composers, and artists; launching the Digital Stage; offering free virtual content; and encouraging a change to the formal dress code for Orchestra musicians, Tarnopolsky dismantles barriers to access to reach broader and more diverse audiences. He is a passionate believer in the arts as a unifying force, helping to form connections, spark conversations, and offer strength and solace.

During Tarnopolsky’s tenure, The Philadelphia Orchestra received the largest gift in its history, launched an innovative free ticket program for the School District of Philadelphia, strengthened history-making partnerships with international collaborators, and in 2019 negotiated an early
contract with the musicians of the Orchestra designed to provide a stable and secure financial future. Tarnopolsky has brought a fresh approach to programming, working with Nézet-Séguin to create unique concert experiences and further The Philadelphia Orchestra’s place in the
communities it serves locally, nationally, and internationally. In April 2022, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Nézet-Séguin won their first GRAMMY Award for Best Orchestra Performance for their Deutsche Grammophon recording of Florence Price’s First and Third symphonies.

The Philadelphia Business Journal recognized Tarnopolsky and the Orchestra with the 2021 Faces of Philanthropy award. It also named Tarnopolsky to its list of 2021 Most Admired CEOs. He was selected as one of the 100 most powerful people in Philadelphia for City & State  Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia Power 100 list in December 2021. Under his leadership, The Philadelphia Orchestra was named Gramophone magazine’s 2020 Orchestra of the Year.

Driven by a lifelong passion for and innate knowledge of the arts, Tarnopolsky has deep experience molding the artistic profiles of orchestras and cultural centers, including key leadership roles at the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He previously served as executive and artistic director of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, the largest multi-disciplinary university-based arts presenter and producer in the United States.

Tarnopolsky received degrees in music and musicology from the University of London’s King’s College. In 2013, he was named one of Musical America’s international “Movers & Shakers: 30 Key Influencers in the Performing Arts” and was selected as Classical Music “MVP” by the San
Francisco Chronicle. In 2015 he was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture. He serves on the boards of New Music USA, the Executive Committee of the Avery Fisher Artist Program, the Advisory Council of the Tianjin Juilliard School, the Pacific Harmony Foundation, and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia..

Presenting Sponsors

Gold Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Media Sponsor

Sponsorship Levels

Gold Sponsor
$6,000
Reserved luncheon table (10 seats) and prominent mention in all advertising of the event, including the Luncheon Program. Poster with logo to be displayed at the podium. Logo to be included in the invitation to the event if received before deadline. Logo to be posted on Pan American website advertising the event. Opportunity to make remarks and to distribute appropriate materials.

Silver Sponsor
$3,500
Reserved luncheon table (10 seats) and mention in all advertising of the event including the Luncheon Program. Logo to be included in the invitation to the event if received before deadline. Logo to be posted on Pan American website advertising the event. 

Bronze Sponsor
$1,750
Reserved luncheon table (10 seats) and mention in all advertising of the event including the Luncheon Program. Logo to be included in the invitation to the event if received before deadline. Logo to be posted on Pan American website advertising the event. 

Table Sponsor
$ 800
Reserved luncheon table for 10 and mention in the luncheon program

Sponsors are requested to consider seating a student honoree and a faculty mentor at their tables.