Swindell selected to attend Orchestra Management Program at Juilliard

Jul. 28—HICKORY — Kelly Swindell, executive director of the Western Piedmont Symphony, is among an international cohort of 36 orchestra and arts professionals selected to participate in Essentials of Orchestra Management, the League of American Orchestras' premier leadership development program.

The 10-day program, from July 26 to Aug. 4, is presented in collaboration with Juilliard Extension and will take place in New York at Juilliard's Lincoln Center Campus.

"Creating pathways for future leaders is central to the League's work," said League of American Orchestras President and CEO Simon Woods. "But Essentials is so much more than just a learning environment — it's a place of highly creative thinking where the leaders of today and the future can tackle together some of the challenges and opportunities orchestras are facing.

"And when we add in the great faculty and Juilliard's inspiring location, we're guaranteed to get some really thought-provoking conversations."

"Kelly's selection for such a prestigious opportunity is commendable and well-deserved," said WPS Board President Ida Clough. "Because of her demonstrated resourcefulness in her role with Western Piedmont Symphony, both the Symphony and the communities it serves will be beneficiaries of this national recognition."

America's flagship program for early- and mid-career orchestra and arts professionals, Essentials of Orchestra Management offers a pathway to future leadership and career success; since its inception in 2000, over 550 individuals have participated in the program.

Now in its 23rd year, Essentials connects, inspires, and challenges tomorrow's leaders, providing them the knowledge they need to enhance their careers.

Topics will include artistic planning and artistic leadership; development, finance, and strategic planning; equity, diversity, and inclusion; education, community engagement, and community and youth programs; human resources and organizational culture; leadership and governance; advocacy, marketing, and communications; orchestra operations; and negotiations. The program also includes concerts of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and a tour of David Geffen Hall, as well as peer discussions and mentoring opportunities.

This year's seminar is taught and directed by a faculty comprised of expert leaders of the orchestra field and beyond.

The 2023 Essentials of Orchestra Management cohort is comprised of professionals working at American, Canadian, and Danish orchestras, conservatories, and arts organizations, as well as career-changers interested in exploring orchestra management positions.

Essentials of Orchestra Management is made possible by grants from Trish and Rick Bryan, 25th Century Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Western Piedmont Symphony (WPS) is the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina, based in Hickory.

For 59 years, WPS has enriched and engaged the communities of western North Carolina through high-quality symphonic music with creative, relevant performances, and educational opportunities for all ages.

Each season, the Symphony presents an inspiring classical Masterworks series, a fun and entertaining Foothills Pops series, a variety of small music ensembles in the Crossroads series, family-friendly Discovery Family Concerts, plus education and community engagement programs in the Catawba Valley, all under the artistic direction of Maestro Matthew Troy.

Western Piedmont Symphony is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council and is a funded affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County.

Business offices are located on the SALT Block at 243 Third Ave. NE, Hickory. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information about Western Piedmont Symphony, call 828-324-8603, visit wpsymphony.org, or email info@wpsymphony.org. Follow Western Piedmont Symphony on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter.

The League of American Orchestras leads, supports, and champions America's orchestras and the vitality of the music they perform.

Its diverse membership of more than 2,000 organizations and individuals across North America runs the gamut from world-renowned orchestras to community groups, from summer festivals to student and youth ensembles, from conservatories to libraries, from businesses serving orchestras to individuals who love symphonic music.

The only national organization dedicated solely to the orchestral experience, the League is a nexus of knowledge and innovation, advocacy, and leadership advancement. Its conferences and events, award-winning "Symphony" magazine, website, and other publications inform people around the world about orchestral activity and developments.

Founded in 1942 and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League links a national network of thousands of instrumentalists, conductors, managers and administrators, board members, volunteers, and business partners. Visit americanorchestras.org.