Levine Music is excited to announce the appointment of David Crane and Ben Sweetbaum to our Board of Trustees, as well as the addition of Deborah Rutter to our Council of Advisors.
Each brings their own unique background, perspective, and approach. Their varied experiences will help us continue to inspired everyone in our region to love music.
David Crane discovered Levine Music when he began adult piano lessons in 2019 after a 50-year hiatus. He had recently retired as Vice President of Government Affairs and Senior Corporate Counsel at Autodesk, a design software company. Prior to joining Autodesk, he represented technology companies and non-profit LGBTQ rights organizations, among others.
Music has always been a passion for David. In addition to piano, he sang in The Washington Chorus and other local choruses, though he retired from playing his alto saxophone long ago.
David earned his BA in History and Religion from Southern Methodist University, Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, and JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.
“Music is a vital part of any education for the joy it brings as well as the critical thinking and self-discipline it cultivates. I look forward to supporting Levine’s work to bring music and musicianship to everyone.”
– David Crane
Deborah Rutter is one of the leading voices in arts administration today. As President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from 2014-2025, Rutter oversaw programming across all genres, as well as a global network of education initiatives.
Along with Renee Fleming and Dr. Francis Collins, she started Sound Health in 2016, an ongoing partnership between the Kennedy Center and National Institutes of Health, in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, exploring potential health benefits of music. In 2019, Deborah opened the REACH — the first expansion of the Center’s campus designed to bring audiences into the artistic process.
Before her tenure at the Kennedy Center, Deborah held executive leadership roles with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, the Seattle Symphony, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Rutter is a graduate of Stanford University and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California.
“Music, and the arts in general, are not merely entertainment, but rather a powerful force for societal good, enriching lives, and fostering hope. I’m excited to spark the joy of music in even more people as part of the Council of Advisors at Levine.”
– Deborah Rutter
Ben Sweetbaum is responsible for leading the project management team at JM Zell, where he brings over 15 years of owner representation and construction management experience. Ben has overseen several projects in the Washington, DC metro area for a variety of uses, including trophy retail, hospitality, office, and multi-family. Ben is experienced in delivering ground-up development, adaptive re-use, and interior renovations.
Prior to joining JM Zell, Ben managed the design, construction, and delivery of the hotel, retail, and garage components of CityCenterDC, and he led the construction management team responsible for the planning and delivery of The Marketplace Plaza at Walter Reed, a four-building mixed-use area of the overall Parks at Walter Reed master development.
Ben attended Syracuse University, receiving a BA in Public Policy and Political Science, before earning a Master of Real Estate from Georgetown University.
“I’m thrilled to join the Board at Levine. I’ve spent my career building community through construction, and I’m excited to support Levine’s mission of creating community through music education.”
– Ben Sweetbaum