Symphony has a new tune
Executive director puts focus on familiar works, marketing
Executive director puts focus on familiar works, marketing
In the front office and at the conductor’s stand, the St. Joseph Symphony is getting a few key players.
After naming Hy-Vee operations manager Brad Auge as the symphony’s new president back in June, the organization recently named Derrick Hinds as its new executive director.
Mr. Auge says he hopes to incorporate technology into the symphony by updating its Web site, podcasting symphony performances and utilizing special lighting and video effects for their 2009-2010 season.
“Some board members engage and some don’t, and he did — and he had a lot of ideas,” said Karen Graves, a symphony board member. “He demonstrated leadership and interest and commitment.”
Mr. Hinds, a native of Minnesota and classically trained trombonist, has 20 years’ experience as a marketing and communications consultant. He sees marketing, along with performing more familiar classical works, as key components to the symphony attracting a larger audience.
“It’s not about making classical music more marketable as it is making the experience of the St. Joseph Symphony more marketable,” Mr. Hinds said.
The symphony’s 2008-2009 season will be particularly unique, thanks to putting several new faces at the conductor’s stand. Of the five guest composers this season, three of those are finalists for the symphony’s music director opening previously occupied by Deborah Friedman. The St. Joseph Symphony conductor also will serve as conductor and faculty member at Missouri Western State University.
Mark McCoy, currently music conductor of the Loudoun Symphony orchestra in Loudoun County, Va., will conduct on Sept. 27. Beverly Everett, conductor of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra in Bemidji, Minn., and the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra in Bismarck, N.D., will conduct a performance on Nov. 8. Rico McNeela, conductor and faculty member at the University of Toledo, will conduct on Feb. 21.
Each conductor’s performance will serve as their final audition in the selection process, with a final choice being announced shortly after the symphony’s February performance. Former symphony board president Dr. Robert Spurgat said that any of the three finalists would be great choices.
“Each one of those have attributes we are looking for,” Dr. Spurgat said. “All, we thought, would be very good at developing an audience.”
Blake Hannon can be reached
at blakehannon@npgco.com
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