- Eben Tourjee (1867-1890)
- Robert Goldbeck, Co-Director (1867-1868)
- Carl Faelten (1890-1897)
- George W. Chadwick (1897-1930)
- Wallace Goodrich (1931-1942)
- Quincy Porter (1942-1946)
- Harrison Keller (Acting Director, 1946-1947; Director, 1947-1953; President, 1953-1958)
- James Aliferis (1958-1962)
- Chester W. Williams (1962-1967)
- Gunther Schuller (1967-1977)
- J. Stanley Ballinger (1977-1982)
- Laurence Lesser (Artistic Director, 1982-1983; President, 1983-1996; Interim CEO, 2006-2007)
- Robert Freeman, 1997-1999
- Daniel Steiner (Acting President, 1999-2000; President, 2000-2006)
- Tony Woodcock (2007-2015)
- Thomas Novak, Interim President (2015-2018)
- Andrea Kalyn (2019-