Submitted by Olympia Symphony Orchestra
Jennifer Hermann, executive director of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra, was among a select cohort of 35 orchestra and arts professionals chosen from the United States and Canada to participate in “Essentials of Orchestra Management,” the League of American Orchestras’ premier leadership development program. The 10-day seminar, running from July 24-August 2, 2022, was presented in collaboration with Juilliard Extension and took place in New York at Juilliard’s Lincoln Center Campus.
“I was honored to represent Olympia and the South Puget Sound at the national level,” said Jennifer Hermann. “The knowledge and inspiration I gained in the program will translate into a focus on discovering our community relevance and developing a culture of belonging. The arts have the potential to address much of what is breaking our world apart, and change begins with a mindset of purpose and curiosity. This program helped me find within myself the power and potential to fulfill this responsibility.”
“These talented professionals are the future of our field–I’m so pleased our brilliant faculty will provide them with a rich in-person experience on the Juilliard campus this year,” said League of American Orchestras President and CEO Simon Woods, the former director of “Essentials of Orchestra Management.” “In addition to offering the cohort the opportunity to build lifelong professional friendships among their peers, the Essentials curriculum will give them the full perspective on what it takes to run an orchestra. We’re honored to uphold the program’s rich legacy of developing our future orchestra leaders.”
Topics included equity, diversity, and inclusion; education, community engagement, and community programs; development and strategic planning; artistic planning and artistic leadership models; human resources and organizational culture; leadership and governance; marketing and communications; and negotiations. The seminar also included a concert at Carnegie Hall, peer discussion and networking, and faculty mentoring opportunities. Sessions were taught and directed by a faculty comprised of master leaders of the orchestra field and beyond.
“The ten days were saturated with information, but I took time to enjoy New York City while there,” Hermann added. “I attended ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Hadestown,’ ate my way through NYC Restaurant Week, visited the 9/11 Memorial, and watched the Mariners beat the Yankees at Yankee Stadium!”
Meet Jennifer and members of the Olympia Symphony on Saturday, August 13 at 1 p.m. as they present their popular “Conduct Us” event in collaboration with Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) at Love Oly SummerFest (downtown Olympia, at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Washington St). Passersby are invited to conduct the orchestra with a choice of Mozart, Beethoven, Journey, or “The Magnificent Seven.”
“Essentials of Orchestra Management” is made possible, in part, by grants from the Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
About Jennifer Hermann
Jennifer has devoted her career to enriching her community through music. She is highly regarded as a community leader, educator, musician, administrator, and advocate for the arts. Jennifer is a graduate of Florida State University (MM Piano Performance & Pedagogy) and Washington State University (BM Piano Performance). She has enjoyed accomplished performance and educational careers, including ten years teaching music theory, music appreciation, and piano at South Puget Sound Community College. She continues to be in high demand as a piano accompanist and adjudicator. In 2016, Jennifer completed the Nonprofit Management Program at University of Washington-Tacoma and accepted the position as Executive Director of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra. During her tenure with the OSO, she has been recognized for her leadership, vision, creativity, and advancement of collaborative relationships. Driven by a spirit of generosity and inclusivity, Jennifer advocates to increase access to the arts and pursues an authentic understanding of artistic and cultural relevance throughout diverse communities.
About the Olympia Symphony
The Olympia Symphony gave its first concert in 1947 and is celebrating 75 years of delivering its mission to “enrich, educate, and entertain.” Over time the OSO has grown to become the premiere orchestra in the South Sound, recognized for its commitment to both community and artistic excellence. Composed of 65 professional musicians from the Puget Sound region, and under the direction of newly appointed Music Director, Alexandra Arrieche, the OSO performs primarily at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Visit Olympia Symphony Orchestra website.
