The Ravinia Festival in Illinois has announced that Jeffrey P. Haydon will become the festival’s new CEO and president.

Haydon succeeds Welz Kauffman, who leaves Ravinia in September after two decades as CEO.

Haydon has led the Caramoor Festival for the past 12 years and was the executive director of the Ojai Music Festival for nine years. He also worked with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 2000-3 as individual gifts manager and served as development director of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.

In a press statement, Haydon said, “I am honored to be asked to lead the Ravinia Festival. Ravinia’s international artistic reputation, legendary live-music experience, beautiful park, training of the next generation of artists, and local community impact with children provide an ideal opportunity to further inspire the world through music. I look forward to returning to Chicago to join the Ravinia family.”