Charleston Symphony Orchestra Announces New Executive Director
For Immediate Release, August 2007The Charleston Symphony orchestra announced today that Janet Newcomb will officially become the CSO’s new Executive Director on October 1st, 2007.
Janet Newcomb is currently the Vice President of Development and the Interim President & CEO at the Rochester Philharmonic in Rochester, New York, following a career that spans 25 years of founding, leading and developing local arts agencies.
“The CSO is the cornerstone of the performing arts in the South Carolina Lowcountry and is essential to the vitality and vibrancy to the cultural life of the region. We conducted an extensive search to ensure that we had the very best candidate in the nation for this critically important position,” said Ellen Dressler Moryl, Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Charleston, and Chair of the CSO’s search committee. “Jan was the unanimous choice of a broad search committee that included board members, artistic and administrative staff, and musicians.”
“We are excited to have someone of Janet’s caliber join us, and we are looking forward to having her work with us to roll out our five-year strategic plan during the next several months, ” said Leo Fishman, the CSO’s Board President. “Jan joins us at a time that will set the stage for the CSO’s future, and she’ll be instrumental in making sure that we continue to bring more and more value to the greater Charleston community in the coming years.”
Before her time in Rochester, Newcomb worked as Consulting Executive Director for the Metropolitan Arts Council in Greenville, South Carolina, The Executive Director of the Arts Council in Corning, New York, Director of Grants for the South Carolina Arts Commission, and Founding Executive Director of the Arts Council of Beaufort County, South Carolina. She has also been the Director of Institutional Advancement for the Technical College of the Lowcountry and served in several roles with the Arts Council in Buffalo, New York. Newcomb’s educational background is in dance, with a BA in Music from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland and a Master’s in Education focused on teaching modern dance from George Washington University in the District of Columbia.
According to Jim Boucher, Board Chair of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra couldn’t have found anyone better to move them forward. “From fundraising to staff leadership, Jan has all of the strategic and tactical skills that ensure success and we will miss her greatly.”
CSO’s Music Director, David Stahl, is also looking forward to Newcomb’s arrival. “Jan’s leadership style, fundraising expertise, and background with larger orchestras will provide tremendous benefit to the CSO, and I can’t wait to begin introducing her to our community,” said Maestro Stahl. “We were thrilled to learn that Jan was interested in returning to South Carolina and bringing her expertise from the Rochester Philharmonic and other major arts organizations around the country to Charleston.”
“My passion is performing arts,” says Newcomb. “I’ve seen such growth during my time in Rochester, and I’m so excited to be returning to South Carolina to be part of the CSO’s new growth plans as well.” According to Newcomb, keeping the CSO moving forward is really about making sure that the CSO is producing programs and providing services that are targeted to the regional Charleston market and that are designed to entice an ever-expanding audience. “We’re looking forward to an outstanding season, and we want to harness the existing momentum and energy to continue to propel the symphony forward,” Newcomb added.
###
About the CSO
The Charleston Symphony Orchestra provides live orchestral performances to over 100,000 Lowcountry residents and visitors each year. From traditional Masterworks to Pops, from well-known chamber music to avant-garde composers, the CSO introduces audiences to an artistically diverse repertoire and compelling musical experiences. The CSO also sponsors an extensive education and outreach program. Through In-School Ensembles, Adopt-A-School programs, Kinder Konzerts, and Young People’s Concerts, the CSO’s music education program reaches over 25,000 school children and introduces them to live instrumental music through music lessons, workshops, concerts, and orchestra presentations. Visit us on the Web at www.charlestonsymphony.com or call the CSO at (843) 723-7528.
