CounterPoint Advising is Nick Adams and Jean Bae — two arts administrators who have sat on every side of the table: performer, administrator, executive, board member, and search committee chair.
About Nick
In 20 years as an arts administrator, I’ve just about seen it all. From a career that started during the Great Recession (2008) to navigating—simultaneously—the pandemic and a nationwide music director search, my experience as an arts administrator has been hard earned. Yet, I’m more excited than ever to be in this field.
Before that, I was a professional trombonist with the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band. So, I’ve seen most sides of the music director equation.
I’m currently the Executive Director of the Pakachoag Music School in Worcester, MA. Prior to that, I served in the same role at Cantata Singers, a choral-orchestral ensemble in Boston. I was there for six years, and it was a music director search we conducted in 2021-2022 that really lit my fire for searches. I loved it. The backwards planning, the difficult conversations, the inspirational candidates… it’s all quite invigorating.
Since that first search, I've led searches as a consultant and co-chaired, advised, or served on committees for six more. That work has grown into CounterPoint Advising, where searches sit alongside leadership coaching, strategic planning, and the operational projects organizations dread. There are no guarantees in this business, but a proven plan helps small and mid-size organizations stack the deck in their favor.
About Jean
I am a skilled arts administrator and violinist based in Boston, MA, with a focus on organizational operations and strategic development. As a Board Member and Acting/Assistant Concertmaster of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, I’ve played a key role in shaping its future; I co-chaired the search committees for the Music Director (2022) and Executive Director (2024), leading selection processes that have defined Longwood’s artistic and administrative direction. Since 2021, I’ve served as Operations Associate for Cantata Singers, supporting administrative functions, concert programming, and front-of-house logistics. With extensive experience in performance, governance, and administration, I bring a strategic approach to executive searches and operational management, demonstrating a deep commitment to the arts and nonprofit leadership.