Theresa Wolters Joins MusiCares As Executive Director

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Theresa Wolters. Photo: Kelly Samson, Gallery Photography

Theresa Wolters has been named Executive Director at MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s charitable arm.

Wolters has served as MusiCares’ Vice President of Health & Human Services since 2022 and brings more than two decades of global health and humanitarian leadership to the role. After stepping in as Interim Executive Director in 2025, she now formally leads MusiCares in its mission to provide a safety net of comprehensive support to the music community.

Wolters holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University, a Master of Business Administration from Heriot-Watt University and studied African Affairs at the University of Cape Town. Before joining MusiCares, Wolters tackled health crises around the world. At the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, she helped shape global strategies that delivered lifesaving services to tens of millions of people affected by HIV and other infectious diseases. As a founding employee of Millennium Promise, she was integral to launching the Millennium Villages Project, one of the most ambitious demonstrations of the UN’s development goals in action.

Later, with the International Medical Corps, Wolters directed health and refugee programs across five African countries, bringing care and stability to some of the most vulnerable populations on the planet. In her work at MusiCares, she champions music professionals as an at-risk population uniquely vulnerable to financial setbacks and health challenges.

“Theresa embodies the spirit of MusiCares. She approaches her work with empathy and clarity, and she strengthens every story with facts that show why our work matters,” says Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares. “Her leadership ensures that music professionals will continue to have access to the care and support they need — recognizing that financial struggles, health concerns and mental health challenges are often deeply connected.”

“Every day, MusiCares has a life-changing, and often lifesaving, impact on music professionals,” says Wolters.”For 35 years, MusiCares has been driven by compassion and a relentless focus on solving the big challenges facing our community. I am truly privileged to work alongside such an outstanding team of committed professionals and know MusiCares will continually rise to meet the needs of those we serve,”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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