President and Chief Executive Officer, Nashville Symphony

The Nashville Symphony

The Nashville Symphony (Symphony) is one of the most artistically ambitious and community‑rooted orchestras in the United States, dedicated to inspiring and engaging a diverse and growing audience through extraordinary live music experiences. With a mission to entertain and educate, the Symphony is recognized for its innovative programming and its commitment to American music, including works by underrepresented composers. Founded in 1946 by World War II veteran Walter Sharp, the Symphony has grown into a leading cultural institution in the South and throughout the nation.

The Symphony owns and operates the iconic Schermerhorn Symphony Center (Schermerhorn), which is fast approaching its 20th anniversary in 2026. Located in the heart of Music City, the building’s neo‑Classical architecture and acoustic excellence make it one of the finest concert halls in the country. The 1,844‑seat Laura Turner Concert Hall features soundproof windows, a 3,500‑pipe concert organ, and a convertible seating system that allows the space to transform from theater‑style seating to a ballroom configuration.

These features support the Symphony’s wide‑ranging programming, which includes more than 150 concerts annually.

The Symphony’s programming spans genres and generations, and the 2025–2026 season showcases its artistic breadth and commitment to innovation. The Classical Series features masterworks such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Holst’s The Planets, Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 ("Jupiter"), Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World"), and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2. The season also amplifies underrepresented voices with works by Carlos Simon, Caroline Shaw, Julia Perry, Arturo Márquez, and Brian Field, including the world premiere of Field’s Everything Hurts, which sets poetry by Amanda Gorman to symphonic music.

Guest artists include Renée Fleming, Edgar Meyer, J’Nai Bridges, Zlatomir Fung, and Time for Three, with guest conductors such as Teddy Abrams, Gemma New, Jonathan Rush, and Robert Spano.

Education and community engagement are central to the Symphony’s mission. Each year, the Symphony reaches tens of thousands of children and adults through free and low‑cost programs such as Young People’s Concerts for K–12 students, sectionals, and lessons for band and orchestra students, and Community Concerts throughout Middle Tennessee. Signature initiatives like "Is It a Fiddle or a Violin?", a collaboration with the Country Music Hall of Fame® & Museum, help bridge cultural traditions.

The Accelerando program prepares young musicians from underrepresented ethnic communities for collegiate study and professional careers in orchestras, reflecting the Symphony’s commitment to equity and access.

The Symphony’s Pops and Special Events Series continues to blur genre boundaries, featuring performances with Dolly Parton (Threads: My Songs in Symphony), Jamey Johnson, Ben Rector, Michael Feinstein’s tribute to Tony Bennett, The Secret Sisters, Cody Fry, and the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club. The Movie Series returns with live orchestral scores accompanying Frozen, Home Alone, and Star Wars. The Jazz Series includes appearances by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, while the Ann & Monroe Carell Family Trust Family Series offers four Sunday afternoon concerts designed to introduce young audiences to orchestral music.

The Symphony remains one of the most prolific recording orchestras in the country with more than 40 releases on labels such as Naxos, Decca, and Deutsche Grammophon. These recordings have earned 14 GRAMMY® Awards and 27 nominations, including recognition for works by iconic artists such as Joan Tower, Stephen Paulus, and Michael Daugherty. The 2025–2026 season includes live recordings of Bates’ Passage and The Rhapsody of Steve Jobs, as well as Jonathan Leshnoff’s Sacrifice of Isaac, continuing the Symphony’s legacy of championing contemporary American composers.

The Symphony employs a range of 74 to 83 full‑time musicians, including two full‑time librarians, and one long‑term principal keyboard over a 44‑week season under the Nashville Musicians…