We are excited to share the latest developments and changes in the professional lives of our members. This edition of Up & Down the Scale covers orchestra administrative announcements made from June through October 2023. If you want to share the administrative, board, or staff member happenings at your organization, send announcements to [email protected] or add us to your PR lists. 

Berkeley Symphony received a gift of $1.5 Million from Gordon Getty to support its future growth.

Kate Kammeyer, Executive Director of the Berkeley Symphony, was chosen for the 2023-24 Cohort of the League of American Orchestras' Anne Parsons Leadership Program.

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music named D. Riley Nicholson as its new Executive Director.

Ana Papakhian was appointed Executive Director of Camerata Pacifica.

Steve Friedlander of the Carmel Bach Festival announced that he plans to step down from his role as Executive Director, but will remain in his role until the organization recruits his replacement.

Rei Hotoda, Music Director of the Fresno Philharmonic, was awarded the Artist Award from the Fresno Arts Council. She was also selected as a speaker for the 2023 Women in Classical Music Symposium.

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus named Sameer Patel as its Music Director and Orchestra Conductor. 

Current ACSO Board Member Jamei Haswell and former ACSO Executive Director Mitch Menchaca have joined the board of the League of American Orchestras for a three-year term.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra appointed Benjamin Smolen as principal flute.

Los Angeles Philharmonic announced the appointments of two new Members of the Orchestra and three new Resident Fellows for the 2023/24 season: David Cooper, Associate Principal Horn; Taylor Eiffert, Bass Clarinet/Clarinet; Samuel Nebyu, Violin, Resident Fellow; Ayrton Pisco, Violin, Resident Fellow; Elizabeth Linares, Horn, Resident Fellow.

Joyce LaBriola was named Executive Director of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, and Elise Dewsberry Green was hired as Orchestra Manager.

Modesto Symphony Orchestra announced Nicholas Hersh as its new Music Director.

Shauna Quill was appointed President & CEO of the Music Academy of the West.

Ojai Music Festival announced Mitsuko Uchida as Music Director for its 2024 festival season.

Pacific Symphony, with the help of Senator Dave Min, received $2 Million in funding from the 2023-24 California State Budget for its orchestras education and community engagement programs.

Pasadena Symphony Association appointed Andrew Brown as its new Chief Executive Officer and Kimberly Winick was elected as the new Board President.

San Diego Symphony postponed its reopening of Copley Hall at Jacobs Music Center due to unexpected construction and design challenges, as the $125 Million renovation continues.

San Francisco Symphony announced that Xavier Muzik is the winner of its third annual Emerging Black Composers Project (EBCP) prize. 

Four new musicians were recently appointed to the San Francisco Symphony: Second Violin Olivia Chen, Second Bassoon Justin Cummings, Associate Principal Flute Blair Francis Paponiu, and Assistant Librarian Matthew Searing. 

Conductors Elias Peter Brown and Aleksandra Melaniuk have been selected by Esa-Pekka Salonen to join the San Francisco Symphony conducting staff in the 2023–24 season as an extension of their work as Salonen Fellows in the Colburn School Conservatory of Music’s Negaunee Conducting Program.

On Sunday, October 1, San Francisco Symphony ratified a two-year contract with its musicians.

Jenny Wong was named the new Director of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus.

San Luis Obispo Symphony renewed the contract of Music Director, Andrew Sewell.