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

Hi Kevin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Few words elicit such polarizing emotional reactions as the word “risk”. Some individuals will immediately associate it with a sort of reckless bet, something that is perhaps motivated by explicit greed. Others will see it as a golden opportunity to better a strategic position for themselves and those around them. In both cases, the word requires an absolute willingness to explore and embrace something that is unknown; a commitment that has the power to transform this feeling of fear into something much more productive. There is also an inherent learning opportunity built in to risk-taking that rewards those that are willing to embrace it. This process for me – a blend of research and information gathering, flexibility in the way that I approach my goals, and hopeful aspiration – has led to some of the most successful outcomes I have seen in my peer group.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Careers in classical music are not what they used to be. Diverse skillsets are now a prerequisite for career flexibility, a fact that is resonating violently throughout the arts community as the industry struggles to navigate the COVID-19 crisis. My awareness of the need to invest in skill development heightened during the financial crisis of 2008 when I was pursuing my doctoral degree in piano performance in New York. I began allocating equal amounts of time at the piano and to the study of investing and finance in hopes that I was making a good long-term bet on myself. This exploration led to the coupling of an Executive MBA to my formal degrees in piano performance, which has proven to be a difference-maker in the opportunities that are now available to me. I currently maintain an active career as performer, educator, and arts entrepreneur. I have had the privilege of performing in the world’s greatest concert venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Seoul Arts Center, and have watched my students go on to pursue their studies at some of the best undergraduate programs in the country. In 2012, I co-founded Chamber Music | OC, a nonprofit arts organization, with my wife, violinist Iryna Krechkovsky. Together, we have grown the organization to be a major force in the Southern California arts community, and recently announced our most exciting acquisition to date: a 4,000-square-foot commercial property in Lake Forest that will house the organization’s administrative, artistic, and educational operations. In April 2020, I accepted the position of Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most important presenters of classical music.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Orange County has so much to offer in culture, geography, and comfort. A perfect day might include a drive through the beautiful coastal city of Laguna Beach, dinner at Habana at the Irvine Spectrum Center, and a concert at Chamber Music | OC!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mentors have played a major role in shaping who I am today. I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to Julian Martin, my teacher at The Juilliard School – an individual that never gave up on me, and someone that I am honored to call my friend.

Website: https://www.kevinloucks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinkwanloucks/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkwanloucks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinKwanLoucks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.k.loucks

Image Credits
Headshots: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco All other shots Jeff Antenore

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