Luisa Cariaga Email Address

Director of Institutional Giving

Pacific Symphony enriches the human spirit through superior performances of symphonic music and community engagement.

Luisa has worked as a senior manager and arts consultant for various non-profits with 18 years of non-profit development and management experience and nearly 20 years of experience in the arts. Currently she is the Director of Institutional Giving for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in Orange County. She is the former Grants Manager for The Music Center and previously worked as Managing Director of the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts and Grants Manager for the Museum of Latin American Art. While consulting, she worked as the Executive Director of the American Youth Symphony and as General Manager of Deaf West Theatre. Prior to this, she worked for the LA County Arts Commission overseeing their technical assistance, internship program, grants panels, and special events. Her experience in non-profit arts management began in 1995 when she worked as Managing Director of East West Players, followed by development/special event work at Opera Pacific before they downsized and later closed. Her career in the arts began in 1988 when she worked for the theatrical agency Mainstage Management, which toured Broadway musicals, plays and international attractions. While attending school at California State University Long Beach, Luisa worked in advertising for the Long Beach Press Telegram where she was awarded division employee of the year. Prior to joining the staff of the Arts Commission, Luisa served on their grants panel, and on panels for the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, City of Los Angeles’ Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Santa Clarita, and the Public Corporation for the Arts. She was a voting member of the Ovation Awards for Theatre L.A. for six years, and two years with L.A Stage Alliance. She was a district co-chair for the California Association of Local Arts Agencies, and is a current member of California Arts Advocates. Specialties: Luisa's personal arts background has cemented her long-standing dedication to the performing arts, experiencing her first opera at the age of two and serving as concert master of her junior and senior high school orchestras. Her father was a pianist and music critic for the LA Times for 33 years, and her mother is a retired opera singer. Luisa has attended over 1,500 live performances during her lifetime, is a fifth generation Californian, and lives in Long Beach where she grew up.