The Yakima Symphony Orchestra welcomes nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director, available in the fall of 2024.
Yakima Symphony Orchestra
https://ysomusic.org/
Founded in March of 1971, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra (YSO) is in its fourth decade of service to the Yakima Valley community. Under the batons of founding Music Director Brooke Creswell and current Music Director Lawrence Golan, the YSO has grown into a fully professional ensemble recognized nationally as one of the finest regional orchestras in the country.
The Yakima Symphony Orchestra includes many of the finest musicians in the Yakima Valley and the greater Pacific Northwest. The YSO’s 2024/2025 season includes six Classical Concerts, four Pops Concerts, and a number of special events. The YSO’s robust educational program includes two youth orchestras: the Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra (YYSO) and Yakima Ensemble for Strings (YES!). The Yakima Symphony Chorus is made up of more than 100 singers from the community. The Orchestra has garnered two ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and prides itself on presenting regional and world premieres. In recent seasons, the YSO has seen record highs in the number of subscriptions sold as well as record success with fundraising and sponsorships.
The YSO is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors and has an administrative staff of seven. The Orchestra has an annual operating budget of $1.5 million and an endowment of about $2.3 million in a trust established solely for support of the YSO. Lawrence Golan has served as Music Director since 2010.
The Opportunity
The next Executive Director will take the helm of an orchestra that has emerged from the pandemic in a position of strength both artistically and financially. In partnership with the Board and Music Director, the Executive Director will lead the next phase of growth for the Yakima Symphony artistically, organizationally, financially, and in service to the greater Yakima community.
About Yakima
Located 60 miles southeast of Mount Rainier, Yakima is the center of the scenic Yakima Valley and the hub of Washington State’s largest agricultural economy. With a population of about 300,000, Yakima is family-friendly, affordable, and within a three-hour drive to Seattle, Portland, and Spokane. Yakima’s revitalized downtown is home to businesses, restaurants, the Capitol Theatre, and a thriving farmer’s market. The Yakima Greenway provides more than 10 miles of river and fishing access throughout the city. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy mountain biking, camping, river sports, and golf. Skiing is popular an hour’s drive from Yakima in the Cascade Mountains. With more than 300 days of sun per year, the Yakima Valley is known for its apples, vegetables, wine grapes, and hops and is home to many local wineries and breweries. Residents enjoy a strong public school system and affordable housing in a community that supports local arts and culture.
The Position
The Executive Director (ED) is the chief administrative officer of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and reports to the Board of Directors through the Board Chair. The ED partners with the Music Director in providing the leadership and vision that allow the Yakima Symphony to fulfill its mission and achieve its goals for artistic excellence, financial sustainability, and community engagement.
The Executive Director is responsible and accountable for all aspects of the YSO’s operations, including: fundraising; artistic administration; marketing, communications, and public relations; budgeting and financial management; concert production and operations, musician contracts; human resources; educational programs; and community engagement. The ED ensures that the YSO’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access is reflected in all aspects of the organization’s operations.
The Executive Director takes a major role in fundraising, including the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of donors and the stewardship of gifts. The ED provides guidance and support to the fundraising activities of Board. The ED ensures that the YSO achieves its goals for contributed income from all sources for the YSO’s annual fund, special projects, and endowment.
The Executive Director oversees the marketing efforts of the YSO to heighten public awareness of the Orchestra’s concerts, educational programs, and overall contribution to the cultural life of the community.
The ED ensures that the YSO meets and exceeds its goals for audience development and retention.
The Executive Director engages, motivates, and evaluates a high-performing administrative team. The ED oversees the implementation of musician service agreements and maintains an environment that allows the Music Director, orchestra musicians, and guest artists to do their best work.
The Executive Director oversees the development of the YSO’s budget, monitors performance against budget, and ensures that budget goals are met. The ED ensures that the Finance Committee and the Board have timely and accurate information to inform their decision-making.
The Executive Director is a lead spokesperson and representative of the YSO in the greater Yakima community and is an active participant in the cultural and civic life of the community. As such, the ED is expected to be a resident of the community and to be a presence both in the office and in the broader community.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be an energetic leader with a thorough knowledge of orchestral music and orchestras and the drive, creativity, and skills needed to develop an enthusiastic audience and contributor base for an excellent regional symphony orchestra. The ideal candidate will have prior successful experience in a management position with a professional symphony orchestra.
The successful candidate will have the proven ability to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including Board members, Music Director, musicians, staff members, volunteers, patrons, and community leaders. The candidate will be able to speak and write persuasively about the value and importance of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and to articulate the commitment of the YSO to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in all programs and activities. The ideal candidate will have direct fundraising experience with individual and institutional donors.
The successful candidate will have strong financial management skills and the proven ability to achieve budget goals. The candidate will be familiar with artistic administration, concert production, and musician contracts. The candidate will knowledgeable and comfortable with the use of technology in all areas of operations and administration. The candidate will be skilled in utilizing social media to heighten the visibility of and interest in the YSO.
The successful candidate will be curious, persistent, empathetic, and kind. The candidate will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards and will have the emotional maturity required to manage a professional symphony orchestra. The candidate will combine a respect for tradition with the courage to take informed risks in order to find creative new solutions to the challenges that face orchestras in a post-pandemic world.
The successful candidate will be able to accept a work schedule that includes evenings and weekends. The candidate will welcome the opportunity to reside in Yakima and become an active member of the community.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $95,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. The Yakima Symphony Orchestra offers a competitive benefits package as well.
Applications
The Yakima Symphony Orchestra welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin.
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter that describes specific interest in the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and outlines experience and qualifications for the position as described in the candidate profile. Please send this letter with a resumé. On a separate sheet, please also include the names and contact information for several professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s knowledge and agreement. Electronic submissions are requested.
The position will remain open until filled; the Search Committee will begin to review credentials in mid-October.
Yakima Symphony Orchestra
c/o Catherine French Group
2500 Q Street NW, Suite 623
Washington, DC 20007
applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com
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