ACSO Board Appoints Sarah Weber as Executive Director

The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Sarah Weber has been selected as the association’s new Executive Director. She began her tenure in that role on January 1, 2019.

For the past two years, Sarah has served as ACSO’s Membership and Development Manager. During that time, she has executed membership renewal campaigns, written successful grant proposals, and secured corporate and individual donations. She has been a partner in program planning, managed the delivery of member services, and played a key part in producing ACSO’s signature annual conference. Her enthusiasm for inviting and growing individual participation, maintaining organizational continuity, and directing energy towards purposeful work and accomplishment will serve ACSO and its membership extraordinarily well as the organization prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.

Sarah is an experienced arts and culture leader who believes in the power of music. Sarah’s leadership will provide members with opportunities to be inspired, to learn, and to connect with colleagues and experts in the classical music field. She has a keen desire to create a sense of belonging for all ACSO members, with appreciation for what it takes to be part of a smaller organization while also respecting the complex challenges faced by larger ones.

In making the announcement, Board President Sean Sutton said, “It was apparent to the entire Board of Directors that Sarah was uniquely suited to serve the organization and its membership, and to advance ACSO’s newly adopted strategic plan. With careful consideration given to identifying candidates that might lead the organization—knowing that many talented individuals in our field might be ready to take on their next challenge—we were fortunate not to have to look any further than our own back yard.”

Sarah’s work for more than fifteen years in the arts and culture sector has been characterized by a focus on organizational health in order to best execute mission-driven initiatives. She’s worked closely with governing boards, participated in multiple strategic planning processes, improved internal infrastructure, and managed departmental budgets, staff, and volunteers.

With a background in museum education and operations, Sarah was previously hired by two major museums as a part of new leadership teams. At both the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix and the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles she created fully functioning education departments from the ground up. Sarah’s leadership set new standards for interpretation and programming and her team was able to provide opportunities for underserved audiences to engage in meaningful arts and cultural experiences that many may have not had otherwise.

“I am honored to have been selected as the new executive director of ACSO,” said Sarah. “This is such an exciting time for growth as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, and I look forward to working with the ACSO board and staff to continue to expand services and programs for our members.”

Originally from Salt Lake City, Sarah holds a BA in history from the University of Utah and an MA in history and museum studies from Arizona State University. She just completed a nine-month leadership fellowship through the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Sarah is a violinist and has enjoyed playing in youth and community orchestras throughout her life.

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