Biography
Dutch native Marc van Bree is a marketing communications professional with a broad experience strategically communicating—on and offline—in a changing media environment.
He blogs at Dutch Perspective on the intersection of communications, culture and social media. Recent projects include the "Orchestras and Social Media Survey" and an ebook "Orchestras and New Media: A Complete Guide."
Marc provides communications and social media consulting and has spoken at national and international conferences about social media for nonprofits and cultural institutions.
He is currently employed as public affairs associate at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, where he implements and enhances research dissemination strategy and infrastructure to put research that benefits children in the hands of policymakers and legislators, advocates and the media.
Marc joined Chapin Hall from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's premier orchestras, where he served as public relations coordinator and later as publicist.
At the Chicago Symphony, Marc took on an active role in the organization's online communications strategy. He developed the CSO's first online, multimedia press room; initiated the organization's Facebook and Twitter pages, connecting with nearly 10,000 fans; built relationships with industry and local bloggers; and managed weekly dynamic Web content for BP CSO Radio Broadcasts.
Prior to his position at the Chicago Symphony, Marc worked as assistant account executive at Carol Fox & Associates, Chicago's largest marketing and public relations firm dedicated solely to promoting the arts. Earlier, Marc held a public relations internship position at the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, where the "Seeing What's Possible" campaign won a 2006 Golden Trumpet award in community relations from the Publicity Club of Chicago.
In 2005, Marc graduated cum laude from Columbia College Chicago, the nation's largest arts and communications college, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing Communication and a concentration in Public Relations. During his course of study, he received the Columbia College Chicago 2004/05 Academic Excellence Award Scholarship in recognition of his academic achievements.
Born in the Netherlands, Marc graduated from the Atheneum secondary education program at Zwijsen College in Veghel, the Netherlands, with a concentration in Economics and Society, in 2001.
Marc went to Vienna, Austria in early January 2002 to obtain an Advanced German certificate. In Vienna, Marc met his wife Tania, who was studying language and music in the city. He spent five months working near Innsbruck, Austria and another six months in London, England before moving to Chicago in May 2003.