Mr. Besen is an adjunct lecturer at the Mannes College of Music, where he teaches a course on career development, “Booking Your Own Concerts.”  He is also a frequent speaker on career development at The Juilliard School and other major universities and conservatories throughout the United States, as well the national conferences of Chamber Music America and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters.

LEO BESEN, CHIEF OF ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT arrived on July 4, 2005.  On hearing young Mr. Besen make his first audible statements the doctor who delivered him said the new guy would surely be an opera singer.  However, thus far Mr. Besen’s predilection has proven more for chamber music.

ARGO S DOG, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, is in charge of security, bill collection, and document shredding.  Mr. Dog comes from humble origins.  Abandoned as a newborn, he was rescued by Animal Control and subsequently spent about six months at the Bide-A-Wee animal shelter on the East Side of Manhattan.  There he met Robert Besen and Dena Levine in May 2000, striking up such a fast friendship that they invited him to move in.  Robert soon realized that Argo showed extraordinary skills in customer relations, as well as a discerning ear (in fact, two of them), and asked him to join BesenArts.  Mr. Dog takes his name from the loyal friend of Odysseus, Argos, the sole member of the warrior’s family to recognize him upon his return to Ithaca after 20 years on tour.