For Anwar Nasir, music definitely makes the world go around. From his earliest memories to his role today as Executive Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), music has been a guiding force, a source of joy and a powerful form of connection.
“I would say that the love of my life is … [the] relationship to music that I have always had, from the early days all the way up through today,” says Anwar. “Not even just in my career, but I find myself always turning to music for everything. I think some of the greatest memories that I've made over the course of my life have been centered around music.”
Case in point: Ask Anwar about the first concert he ever attended, and his voice exudes pure joy. “It was Salt-N-Pepa at the Mann Center in Philadelphia,” he recalls. “That was a really fun [concert]. I went with my mom. I was probably too young to go, but I had a great time, and it was really wonderful.”
He says, “I remember the songs that my mom and grandmother used to play, and this evokes so many memories. Even throughout my career, music has always been the thing that I know I can turn to when I'm happy, sad, indifferent, need to fall asleep or need to wake up. It is everything. I can't imagine a life without it. I would be shattered if I didn't have music in my life.”
At the LPO, Anwar brings his love of music to life through visionary leadership, incredible artistic collaborations, and meaningful community engagement. He has led the nation’s only full-time musician-governed and collaboratively operated orchestra through a period of tremendous growth, championing efforts to make it more culturally relevant, accessible and reflective of the diverse community it serves.
“We've had some wonderful partnerships with Big Freedia, Tank & the Bangas and Lost Bayou Ramblers,” he explains. “Someone came up to me at one of our parks concerts [and] said, ‘This orchestra feels culturally relevant in a way that it never has before.’ That stuck with me that an orchestra is nothing but a group of people that come together and make music, but in reality, it is tying those two things together. It really does take everybody [on our team] to get these things done.”
Anwar appreciates that his role allows him to stay connected to his artistic side. “I love that I can work in a creative space. I would not thrive if I was crunching numbers all day or working in a cubicle from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. There are a lot of good things that come with a standard schedule like that, like knowing exactly what you do, but understanding that no two days are going to be alike is something that I enjoy because it keeps it interesting for me in a special way. I can never get too comfortable, and that allows me to keep growing. I am grateful for that.”
And then there’s the Grammy Award! In 2024, the LPO won Best Regional Roots Album for "Live: Orpheum Theater Nola,” a collaboration with the aforementioned Cajun band Lost Bayou Ramblers. Anwar says, “Winning a Grammy and getting to walk across the stage and represent the orchestra [is my most memorable career moment]. It was wonderful. I never in my wildest dreams imagined something like that would happen. It all happened so fast, and it was truly magical to go from running a small box office to now winning a Grammy Award on behalf of this orchestra. I never would have fathomed that would have been a thing for me.”
Anwar’s path to the LPO began with a ticket office job in Atlanta, where he discovered INTIX through the Georgia Professional Ticketing Association (GaPTA) regional group. “It was such a fun and engaging group. We cared about each other. We looked after each other,” he recalls. “We would do professional development things together and have social gatherings. We could call each other if we needed access to house seats that we could buy or even get comped. I found such a sense of community in that group, and then I became a member of INTIX … It helped me feel like a whole person, that I was not alone in this work that I do.”
Although he has since transitioned into an executive role, Anwar’s connection to our industry runs deep. “We’re not defined by the roles that we have ... Being a ticketing professional is a part of who I am, and I’m never going to let that go.”
Over time, Anwar became more deeply involved with INTIX, volunteering, serving on committees, eventually leading them, and joining the board of directors. “As ticketing professionals, we are often invisible parts of an operation, especially with things going more and more digital. But it is still so critical to everything that we do in live event production, whether it's arts and culture, sports, attractions or university.”
He continues, “INTIX makes you feel seen, valued, supported, and you know you are not alone in the work that you're doing on a day-to-day basis. I get so much inspiration from this group because it is a serial group of innovators. We can never get comfortable. We think about where we came from 30 or 40 years ago. Before the internet, before we had digital tickets or digital wallets, there were box office professionals. Knowing that we could come from that to now being able to seamlessly deliver a ticket to someone in under a minute is fantastic. I would say we are innovating at the speed of light.”
Anwar especially values INTIX’s spirit of inclusion and cross-disciplinary learning. “With INTIX, you get people from all walks of life, people that have been in this [industry] for all of their careers, people that are new to [ticketing] who are bringing creative ideas. You also have all of the vendors,” he remarks. “I can talk to one of the higher-ups at Ticketmaster or the CEO of Tessitura with no problem. In a way, it's not very hierarchical, but everybody is there because they believe in what we do.”
He adds, “INTIX is one of the special communities because it gives you cross-functional and cross-disciplinary learning … A lot of the other associations that I'm part of are very singular in their focus … Being able to connect with everyone, no matter what your title is, in a way that's meaningful and personal, is really what sets this community apart.”
This ethos of connection extends to Anwar’s view of the live events industry as a whole. “I love our industry because there are so many different types of people that thrive in what we do, and it's incredibly supportive … Whether we're running a small 100-seat theater or a 100,000-seat venue serving millions of people every year, we are still a community … Everybody is welcome. I have never felt ostracized as part of this community. Even as a newbie or the first time coming to a conference, I always felt so welcomed, uplifted and appreciated for what I was bringing to the table. Everybody can find a home within our community.”
For Anwar, it is also about legacy, especially when it involves the next generation. “Being able to create opportunities for young people to learn music [and] to get connected with an art form [is important to me]. I spent a lot of time as a dance teacher as well, and being able to pass down my gifts to the next generation feels really special. When I see them accomplishing whatever they intend to learn, that gives me more inspiration than anything else. [It means] more than awards, accolades or growing audiences. Being able to give back to young people keeps me inspired every day.”
Mentorship has been a defining force in Anwar’s life. One leader in particular, Joe Carter at the LA Philharmonic, stands out. “I was so grateful for our time together because he showed me what it meant to be a compassionate leader, to be very thoughtful, and to be stern when he needed to be. He has obviously been very big in the INTIX community. I think he believes in all of his team in a way that I haven't seen with many others … I don't think I would be where I am if it wasn't for his consistent encouragement, thoughtful mentorship and leadership with me.”
Anwar is quick to point to another person who shaped him, his mother. “She raised me primarily as a single mother. I have a wonderful father in my life, but she was such a strong individual who always saw the potential in me and would encourage me to pursue all of my passions. If there was something I was excited about, she was excited about it as well. I think coming from a place of love is so important and feeling that sense of encouragement and support at such a young age, I couldn't think of a better person to say that I admire for their strength, vulnerability, determination and passion.”
Asked what traits he admires most, Anwar points to empathy. “Being able to understand and listen to someone and recognize that your experience may not be the same, but that you can understand where this person is coming from [is a special quality].”
In colleagues, he values humor, joy, and loyalty. “We spend a lot of time with our colleagues, sometimes more than our families and friends,” says Anwar. I tend to gravitate towards people who have great personalities, are great conversationalists, are not afraid to laugh and be fun, and see the good and joy in everything.”
In his friendships, he cherishes connection and honesty. “It should feel like we're going through life with each other … They are not afraid to call you out, but they will also be the first ones to show up and support you,” he says.
Anwar’s philosophy of leadership naturally evolved from those friendships and personal experiences. “A good leader not only believes in you, but will encourage you, and is not afraid to tell you when you may have fallen short of a goal or an expectation. They are a really good coach and mentor,” he says. “There have been plenty of times where I've fallen short of a goal or deadline [by which] we needed to get something accomplished, [so our work] might come in a little bit late. Those individuals let me know that goals and deadlines are important, but also said, ‘Let's figure out a path and a strategy forward, so that way it doesn't happen again.’ That's kind and compassionate.”
He adds, “Good leaders treat their colleagues and the people that report to them like we are partners. Like we are all in this boat rowing together. No matter what my job is here, whether I'm calling the shots, steering or on the lookout, they understand that every person on the team is important.”
When it comes to work, Anwar believes that a fantastic team is the foundation of everything. “My greatest achievement professionally has been my ability to build wonderful teams of people. I think all the success that I've had throughout my career has been built in partnership with the people that have surrounded me.”
Anwar’s belief in the power of collaboration and human connection carries into every corner of his life, even his love of football. “My favorite team is the world champion Philadelphia Eagles. I grew up not too far from the stadium, and [it was very special] getting to go to games with my family and friends. Since I've lived all around the country, I've seen them play in Los Angeles, Atlanta and here in New Orleans when we won the Super Bowl. It is wonderful to be an Eagles fan.”
For Anwar, being part of that fan community is another example of the energy that shared experiences bring. “There is the camaraderie we have as fans. I was walking down the street for Mardi Gras and saw a gentleman wearing an Eagles jersey. I yelled out the Eagles chant. A couple of other people joined in because there were people in town from Philly, and [instantly], we had this common bond between us.”
Just as sports bring people together, so too does music. Outside his venue, Anwar makes a point of staying close to the art he loves. “Even though I work for an orchestra and spend so much time going to our own concerts, I still like to go to concerts on my own. One of my favorite things to do is go to other concerts and see how they are doing and how the crowd is reacting to them,” Anwar says.
His love of live performance has made certain venues stand out in unforgettable ways. “One of my favorite venues to watch a concert is the Hollywood Bowl,” Anwar says. “It’s an outdoor venue, but it feels so intimate … There is something truly special about being able to sit there with what feels like 18,000 of your closest friends with a bottle of wine or having dinner and just a beautiful night of music under the stars.”
As for a standout experience? “The Beyoncé Renaissance World Tour,” he says without hesitation, adding that he has seen her more times than any other artist on the planet. “There was such a wonderful spirit of camaraderie in the air with all those fans. At one point in the concert, I was standing there clutching my bag with my arms crossed across my chest because I just couldn't believe that I was here experiencing this live … I realized I was never going to have that experience ever again.”
He also loves movies. “If I had the time, I would go to the movies every night of the week and see every movie that they put out, because there is just something surreal about sitting in a dark movie theater and being transported into another story [and] another time. Even the animated movies are just so fun.”
Anwar’s literary heroes include Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin. “Ellison wrote a book called Invisible Man that I absolutely love and adore. He was a prolific writer who had the ability to tell stories from the perspective of what feels like the everyday human being, and that was wonderful to me. I think about James Baldwin a lot and being able to write about the African American and the Black experience in a way that was truly prolific.”
A lifelong learner, Anwar has a remarkably diverse array of talents. “I have had a career as a professional dancer and was in a boy band at one point. I studied music growing up. But I also had a brief stint doing journalism, both print and broadcast,” he shares.
Is there one talent that Anwar longs to have? “I wish I was more athletic,” he says. “I did a couple of things in middle school and high school, but I wish I was more of a traditional athlete, like being able to play basketball, football or baseball. Something like that would be truly wonderful.”
When asked what he would want if granted wishes, Anwar said, “I would love to have the ability to travel at any time and go anywhere without having a sense of responsibility or [worrying] about the cost … I would love to be able to go to all of the major fashion weeks around the world, like New York, Paris, Milan … It has been a bucket list item of mine.”
It's no wonder, then, that Anwar counts Rome as one of his favorite places to visit. “There is something special about that city, and I feel so at home there. I have been four or five times and always stay in the same place. I try new restaurants, but I always go back to my same few restaurants. It feels like time stops when I'm there. I feel this tremendous sense of history and occasion, and the fact that the city has been around for thousands of years and has persevered for that long, but it also still feels very modern, fresh and exciting … I would move to Rome tomorrow if I could.”
Talking about an ancient city makes one wonder what Anwar would do if he could go back in time. “I would tell myself to be patient,” he responds. “Give yourself some grace. You don't have to have everything figured out. Still, have a plan and work the plan, but it is okay. You are going to make mistakes. You are going to continue to learn. You're going to continue to grow. Have fun, laugh more, and be in the moment a lot more. And don't worry about the future as much.”
Asked to name his most treasured possession, Anwar laughs and says, Probably my phone, and not in a traditional sense, but I feel like I would be lost if I didn’t have a phone with me at all times.”
And what brings him the most joy? “I get a lot of joy out of seeing the people around me succeed and be happy, whatever that means for them … That really warms my heart.”
It warms our hearts, too, to see Anwar continue to make a lasting impact – not just through music, but through the humanity, leadership and heart he brings to every stage.
You May Also Like
Want news like this delivered to your inbox weekly? Subscribe to the Access Weekly newsletter, your ticket to industry excellence.