OUR PEOPLE
Violin I
Associate Concertmaster
Assistant Concertmaster
The Anne Heartt Gregory Chair
The Jessie Wyatt Ethridge Chair
Paul Goldsberry
The Richard and Joy Cook Chair
So Yun Kim
The Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. Chair
The Phyllis (“Pat”) Conrad Wells Chair
The James C. Byrd and Family Chair
The Tom and Mary Mac Bradshaw Chair
The Harvey At-Large Chair
The J. Felix Arnold Chair
Violin II
The Nancy Finch Wallace Chair
Associate Principal
The Blanche Martin Shaw Chair
Viola
Principal
The Florence Spinks and Charles Jacob Cate and Alma Yondorf and Sylvan Hirschberg Chair
Assistant Principal
The J. Sidney Kirk Chair
The Samuel H. and Anne Latham Johnson Viola Chair
Cello
Anonymously Endowed
The William Charles Rankin Chair
The Nell Hirschberg Chair
The Sara Wilson Hodgkins Chair
The Secretary of Cultural Resources Betty Ray McCain Chair
Double Bass
The Mark W. McClure Foundation Chair
The Harllee H. and Pauline G. Jobe Chair
The John C. and Margaret P. Parker Chair
Flute
The Jack and Sing Boddie Chair
Piccolo
The Jean Dunn Williams Chair
Oboe
The Clarence and Alice Aycock Poe Chair
English Horn
The Bruce and Margaret King Chair
Clarinet
Assistant Principal
The Kathryn Powell and Green Flavie Cooper Chair
Bassoon
French Horn
The Roger Colson and Bobbi Lyon Hackett Chair
The Paul R. Villard and Gabriel Wolf Chair
The Mary Susan Kirk Fulghum Chair
Trumpet
Associate Principal
The Henry and Martha Zaytoun and Family Chair
Anonymously Endowed
Trombone
Assistant Principal
Bass Trombone
Anonymously Endowed
Tuba
Harp
Timpani
Percussion
Organ
To Be Filled
The Albert and Susan Jenkins and Family Organ Chair
Library
Principal Orchestra Librarian
The Mary Colvert and Banks C. Talley Chair
Senior Assistant Librarian
Assistant Librarian
*Acting position
**Leave of absence
Grant Llewellyn, Music Director Laureate
The Maxine and Benjamin Swalin Chair
Grant Llewellyn is renowned for his exceptional charisma, energy, and easy authority in music of all styles and periods. A native of Tenby, South Wales, Llewellyn won a conducting fellowship to the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts in 1985, where he worked with conducting legends Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Kurt Masur, and André Previn. As Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the early 1990s, he conducted at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and on classical series and Boston Pops concerts.
Llewellyn has conducted many orchestras in North America, most notably the symphonies of Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Milwaukee, Montreal, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Toronto. As Music Director of the Handel and Haydn Society, America’s leading period orchestra, he gained a reputation as a formidable interpreter of music of the Baroque and Classical periods.
Music Director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne since 2015, Llewellyn has held positions with numerous other European orchestras — including Principal Conductor of the Royal Flanders Philharmonic, Principal Guest Conductor of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, and Associate Guest Conductor with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. An accomplished opera conductor, Llewellyn has appeared at the English National Opera, Opera North, Spoleto Festival USA, and the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.
Llewellyn has led NCS in four critically acclaimed recordings, most recently Britten’s Cello Symphony and Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante, both with cellist Zuill Bailey. Deeply committed and passionate about engaging young people with music, Llewellyn regularly leads education activities with NCS and around the world.
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Artistic Advisor
Carlos Miguel Prieto is considered the leading Mexican conductor of his generation. A highly respected cultural leader, Prieto was named Musical America’s 2019 Conductor of the Year. He possesses a wide-ranging repertoire, has led more than 100 world premieres, and is a champion of American and Latin American composers.
Prieto serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra; Music Director of Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México and Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico; and Music Director of the Orchestra of the Americas. Prieto is a graduate of Princeton University and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.
North Carolina Symphony Society, Inc.
The Society Board is the governing, policy, and operating board of the Symphony Society. It secures financial resources, approves program goals, engages in strategic planning, and oversees budgets, continuing the Society’s mission to achieve the highest level of artistic quality and performance standards, and embracing the dual legacies of statewide service and music education.
Mr. Don Davis, Chair, Raleigh
Dr. Wm. Charles Helton, Vice Chair, Raleigh
Mr. Joe Bastian, Treasurer, Chapel Hill
Mr. Terry L. Stevens, Assistant Treasurer, Raleigh
Mrs. Ashley Matlock Perkinson, Secretary, Raleigh
Ms. Sandi M. A. Macdonald, President & CEO, Raleigh
Ms. Deborah M. Aiken, Raleigh
Dr. Tim Altman**, Laurinburg
Dr. Trude R. Bate, Cary
Ms. Denise S. Bennett, Raleigh
Mrs. Janie W. Bird, Raleigh
Mr. Jud Bowman, Durham
Ms. Patty Briguglio, Cary
Mr. Steve Burriss, Raleigh
Mr. Tim Clancy, Raleigh
The Honorable Roy Cooper*, Raleigh
Mr. Jeffrey A. Corbett, Raleigh
Mr. Richard L. Daugherty, Raleigh
Mr. Keith Donahue**, Raleigh
Dr. Robert N. Eby, Chapel Hill
Mr. Rick Gardner, Raleigh
Mr. Michael Gering, Raleigh
Mr. Mike Golden, Raleigh
Mr. Donald A. Haile, Raleigh
Mr. David Haines, Cary
Mrs. Elaine Bryant Hayes, Fayetteville
Mr. Richard E. Hinson, Chapel Hill
Mr. Kevin Howell**, Raleigh
Mr. L. Dwain Joyce*, Fayetteville
Mrs. Cecelia Eckert Kennedy, Morrisville
Dr. Robert Lacin, Raleigh
Mr. Robert MacNeill, Jr., Durham
Ms. Jane Marr**, Wilmington
Mr. Branford Marsalis, Durham
Mrs. Louise A. Miller, Cary
Mr. James Morgan, Raleigh
Mr. Graham Mosely (deceased), Wilmington
Mrs. Florence Peacock, Chapel Hill
Dr. Emily Mann Peck, Raleigh
Ms. Margaret Smedes Poyner, Raleigh
Dr. Ramachandra P. Reddy, Cary
Mr. Jason Smith, Raleigh
Mrs. Tracey Fodor Smith, Farmville
Mr. David Sontag, Chapel Hill
Mrs. Linda J. Staunch*, New Bern
Mr. M. Gray Styers, Jr. Raleigh
Ms. Sandy Sully, Cary
The Honorable Catherine Truitt*, Cary
Mrs. Jennie Harris Wallace, Raleigh
Mr. Dereck Whittenburg, Raleigh
Secretary D. Reid Wilson*, Raleigh
Mr. Larry Wilson*, Raleigh
Mr. Tim Yull, Raleigh
*Ex Officio Member
**Governor’s Appointee
Lifetime Trustees
The Society and Foundation Boards gratefully recognize the individuals listed below as Lifetime Trustees for extraordinary involvement and leadership of the Symphony over a significant period of time.
Dr. Assad Meymandi – 2015 Inductee
Mr. Edward O. Woolner (deceased) – 2016 Inductee
North Carolina Symphony Foundation
The Foundation Board holds the permanent endowment of the Symphony, solicits additions to the endowment, safeguards and invests assets, and prudently expends funds for the exclusive use and benefit of the Symphony Society.
Mr. Larry Wilson, President, Raleigh
Mr. D.S. (Steve) Hodges, Vice President, Durham
Col. Matt Segal, Treasurer, Cary
Ms. Dianne C. Sellers, Secretary, Raleigh
Mr. Thomas H. Roberg, Past President, Raleigh
Mr. Chip Anderson, Raleigh
Ms. Catharine Biggs Arrowood, Raleigh
Mr. Richard L. Daugherty, Raleigh
Mr. Don Davis*, Raleigh
Dr. Warner Hall, Raleigh
Dr. Wm. Charles Helton, Raleigh
Mr. Bill Hodges, Raleigh
Dr. Ted Kunstling, Raleigh
Mr. Henry A. Mitchell, Jr., Raleigh
Dr. Shaler Stidham, Jr., Raleigh
*Ex Officio Member
North Carolina Symphony Chapter Boards
Craven County
Linda J. Staunch, President
Nancy Alexander
Susan Braaten
Jim Congleton
Philip Evancho
Catherine Everett
Hannah French
Cille Griffith
John Haroldson
Mary McGee
Bettina Meekins
Champ Mitchell
Luana Palimetakis
Tom Payne
Karen Plaster
Lauren Quinn
Pat Rowlett
Dawn Staats
Cindy Turco
John Ward
Cumberland County
Mr. L. Dwain Joyce, President
Ms. Rachel Dixon
Mrs. Ellie Fleishman
Mrs. Elaine Bryant Hayes
Dr. Jae Won Kim
Ms. Ashley Martin
Ms. Joyce McLeod
Mr. Calvin Mims
Mr. Worth Smith
Dr. Mark Tollefsen
Ms. Cathy Wilson
Edgecombe County
Ann Warren, President
Nettie Williams, Vice President
Catherine Powers-Moseley, Secretary
Erica Bilicki
Joy Chafin
Ronnie Ellis
Elizabeth Burns
Eric Greene
Becky Johnson
Nancy Dreier
Carol Ferri
Johanna Owens
Joe Proto
Jim Vogelman
Nina Rountree
Angie Ruffin
Katie Schultz
Suzanne Sharpe
Janet Spiers
Jessie Thorne
Moore County
Jim Arnold, President
Deb Swanson, Secretary
Luke Arno
Chris Dunn*
Ginger Minichiello
Marie Riedesel
Elaine Sills
Onslow County
Earl Taylor, President
Val Darner, Vice-President
Lyndsay Russell, Secretary
Elaine Bell
Jolie Brooks
Lane Beuerman
Dr. Erin Chaney
Pat Collins
Janae Copeland
Bill Darner
Susan Edwards
Gloria Goodwin
Dr. Robert Kell
Vickie Kell
Korene Marsh
Verne Seaton
Marjorie Tredwell
*Ex Officio Member
TRUSTEE LISTS CURRENT AS OF MARCH 2021
President’s Office
Sandi M.A. Macdonald – President & CEO
Email: smacdonald@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.733.2750
Sue Guenther – Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Email: sguenther@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5455
Artistic Operations
Donald Tippett – Vice President of Orchestra Operations
Email: dtippett@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5464
Bradford Courage – Director of Orchestra Personnel
Email: bcourage@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5465
Samantha Gallup – Artistic Operations Assistant
Email: sgallup@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5462
Jessica Kunttu – Assistant Librarian
Email: jkunttu@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5469
Erin Lunsford – Artistic Planning Manager
Email: elunsford@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5521
Janice McLaughlin – Senior Assistant Librarian
Email: jmclaughlin@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5470
Bo Osborne – Production Manager
Email: hosborne@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.215.5738
Martin Sher – Artistic Advisor (Consultant)
Email: msher@ncsymphony.org
Christopher Short – Education Assistant
Email: cshort@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.733.2750
Jason Spencer – Director of Education
Email: jspencer@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5461
Stephanie Wilson – Principal Orchestra Librarian (The Mary Colvert and Banks C. Talley Chair)
Email: swilson@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5468
Finance & Administration
Robert Schiller – Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration & CFO
Email: rschiller@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5490
Carol Brown – Accounting & Payroll Manager
Email: cbrown@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5493
Tiffany Debnam – Database & Fulfillment Manager
Email: tdebnam@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5496
Tiffany Haddock – Human Resources & Office Systems Manager
Email: thaddock@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5491
Glenda Hughes – Controller
Email: ghughes@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5494
Stan Williams – Public Affairs Contractor
Email: swilliams@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5456
Marketing & Audience Development
Linda Charlton – Vice President for Marketing & Audience Development
Email: lcharlton@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5474
Jennifer Blackman – Graphic Designer
Email: jblackman@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5481
Ashley Blankenship – Group Sales & Promotions Coordinator
Email: ablankenship@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5505
Gavin Brown – Box Office Manager
Email: gbrown@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5502
Sarah Clements – Box Office Associate
Email: tickets@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.733.2750
Maria H. Ewing – Director of Advertising & Corporate Partnerships
Email: mewing@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5480
Richard Hess – Communications Project Manager
Email: rhess@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5478
Melissa Holmes – Box Office Associate
Email: tickets@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.733.2750
Meredith Kimball Laing – Director of Communications
Email: mlaing@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5484
Jonathan Naylor – Box Office Associate
Email: jnaylor@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.733.2750
Jim Vestal – Box Office Associate
Email: tickets@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.733.2750
Emma Wall – Assistant Vice President of Marketing
Email: ewall@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5507
Philanthropy
Lisa Ransom – Vice President of Philanthropy
Email: eransom@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5487
Rebecca Gunn – Director of Annual Giving
Email: rgunn@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5489
Kayla Gurley – Annual Giving & Stewardship Manager
Email: kgurley@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5492
Courtney Hamm – Director of Corporate & Foundation Giving
Email: chamm@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5483
Rebecca Watkins – Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving
Email: rwatkins@ncsymphony.org
Phone: 919.789.5497
Auditions
No positions are available at this time.
Administrative positions
Philanthropy Coordinator
Immediate Opening September 2021
THE POSITION
The Philanthropy Coordinator is responsible for coordinating Philanthropy Department operations in a professional and efficient manner. The Philanthropy Coordinator supports all fundraising and events activities while being mindful of deadlines and patrons’ needs, helps the department’s capacity to achieve goals, ensures effective and timely communication between the department and key internal and external stakeholders, and provides high level administrative support in all areas of work assignments. This position reports to the Vice President of Philanthropy.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist with the development and/or preparation of printed and digital materials, solicitation letters, proposals, funder reports, meeting information, and other products in support of the department’s work
- Ensure letters, proposals, and reports are copied, filed, and mailed in a timely manner; maintain thorough and accurate hard-copy and digital donor files
- Enter contact memos and assist with keeping the donor database current and accurate
- Provide support for all special events as directed
- Support the North Carolina Symphony’s planned giving program and Lamar Stringfield Society legacy group by coordinating digital and hardcopy mailings, the production schedule for marketing materials, and support for the annual recognition event
- Coordinate the tracking systems and electronic files for major gifts, planned giving, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships, including proposal and report calendars, and cultivation and stewardship systems and processes
- Coordinate stewardship reporting by collecting and organizing data on program impacts and outcomes, and by drafting and formatting reports
- Conduct prospect research on individuals, corporations, and foundations, and prepare research profiles and information for prospect review meetings
- Support the Development Committee, including maintaining lists of members, sending meeting notices, collecting RSVPs, reserving meeting spaces, preparing meeting materials, taking and disseminating minutes, and keeping official records
- Respond to donor requests including ticket exchanges, donations, and stock transfer information, and assist with benefits fulfillment and other VIP needs
- Schedule Philanthropy team meetings, and prepare agendas and fundraising dashboards
- Prepare and maintain concert duty schedule for Philanthropy department assignments, and input Philanthropy information into timing sheets
- Maintain inventory of invitation, cardstock, postage stamps, letterhead, envelopes, and events supplies for department needs
- Track budgeting and expenditures for department needs, and process invoices
- Organize and maintain files of Philanthropy photos, and coordinate selecting photos for fundraising projects, events, and publications
- Prepare communication project request forms on behalf of the department’s projects, and ensure the approval process takes place in a timely manner
- Serve as back-up to Database and Fulfillment Manager for processing donations and acknowledgements
- Serve as back-up to the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO as needed
- Perform other responsibilities or assignments as needed, including concert duty
QUALIFICATIONS
- Interest in, and experience with, fundraising or non-profit organizations
- Superior verbal and written communication skills
- Strong interpersonal, relationship, and customer service skills
- Strong research, analytical, planning, and organizational abilities; superior attention to detail
- Ability to function at a high level under deadline pressure
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, taking responsibility for the completion of each by its respective deadline
- Excellent judgment and professionalism in dealing with people, being collaborative, responsive, and supportive
- Self-motivated and enthusiastic with ability to work independently
- Team-oriented, flexible, positive, personable, and willing to learn
- Professional appearance and demeanor
- Ability to support and implement the mission, vision and values of the North Carolina Symphony; knowledge of, and interest in, orchestral music or performing arts
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, desktop publishing, and Zoom
- Ability to travel and work outside traditional office hours
- Bachelor’s degree required
This is a full-time salaried position. Compensation is early career. Benefits package includes health insurance through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, long-term disability, life insurance, and an employee assistance program and an optional 403(b) retirement plan and optional dental insurance.
THE ORGANIZATION
We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religious persuasion, marital status, political belief, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions.
TO APPLY
Email cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample to:
Lisa Ransom, Vice President of Philanthropy
humanresources@ncsymphony.org
No phone calls, please
Part-Time Box Office Associate (20 hours/week)
Under the direction of the Box Office Manager, the Box Office Associate will provide support services and operate department in a professional and efficient manner, supporting all box office activities to maximize ticket sales and maintain a high level of customer service.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities for this multi-faceted role include: answer incoming calls and transfer to specific extensions; process ticket orders both in person and via phone, fax, mail, and online; process ticket exchanges; increase earned income through cross-sale and up-sale opportunities; assist with group sales when needed; perform general administrative office duties such as filing and photo copying and other duties as assigned by the Box Office Manager.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to organize, manage, and complete multiple projects and tasks simultaneously with accuracy, timeliness, and enthusiasm
- Experience handling money, ideally in a box office setting
- Excellent oral and written communications skills and highly developed organizational skills
- Willingness to perform outbound calling to sell tickets
- Motivated and enthusiastic, with the ability to own projects while asking for assistance when needed
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
- Willingness to work outside of traditional business hours and to work a flexible schedule that requires statewide travel and evening and weekend concert work
- Provide exemplary customer service, including the ability to maintain a positive attitude, be flexible, and resolve problems under pressure
- Experience working in retail or phone sales preferred
- Experience with any ticket system preferred
THE ORGANIZATION
We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, religious persuasion, marital status, political belief, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions.
TO APPLY
Send cover letter, resume by email to:
Gavin Brown
Box Office Manager
gbrown@ncsymphony.org
No phone calls, please
About
About the North Carolina Symphony
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, the North Carolina Symphony swiftly pivoted to provide music education programs virtually and online, keeping our service and music education mission front and center. The Symphony’s re-imagined 2020/21 season includes a subscription series of concerts filmed live in Meymandi Concert Hall and streamed to living rooms across the state and beyond. Concerts this season are each receiving thousands of screen views, and the programs featuring North Carolina Symphony musicians and guest artists are getting rave reviews. The North Carolina Symphony is the recipient of a Catalyst Fund grant from the League of American Orchestras made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, to build internal capacity in advancing our understanding and encouraging practice of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
NCS is an equal opportunity employer that maintains a policy of nondiscrimination with respect to all employees and applicants for employment including hiring, promotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, selection for training, and recruitment. All considerations are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status. Employment decisions, subject to the legitimate business requirements of NCS, are based solely on the individual’s qualifications, merit, experience and performance. NCS is proud to be a partner orchestra of the National Alliance for Audition Support.
Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony (NCS) is a vital and honored component of North Carolina’s cultural life. Each year, the North Carolina Symphony’s 300 concerts, education programs, and community engagement events are enjoyed by adults and schoolchildren in more than 90 North Carolina counties—in communities large and small, and in concert halls, auditoriums, gymnasiums, restaurants, clubs, and outdoor settings. The Symphony’s full-time professional musicians perform under the artistic leadership of Music Director Laureate Grant Llewellyn.
NCS’s state headquarters venue is the spectacular Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. The Symphony’s service across the state includes series in Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, New Bern, Southern Pines, and Wilmington, as well as the Summerfest series at its summer home, the outdoor Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. NCS brings some of the world’s greatest talents to North Carolina and embraces home-state artists from classical musicians to bluegrass bands, creating live music experiences distinctive to North Carolina.
Committed to engaging students of all ages across North Carolina, NCS leads the most extensive education program of any symphony orchestra—serving nearly 70,000 students each year. In alignment with the curriculum set by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the Symphony provides training and resources for teachers, sends small ensembles into classrooms, and presents full-orchestra Education Concerts that bring the fundamentals of music to life. Music Discovery for preschoolers combines music with storytelling, and at the middle and high school levels, students have opportunities to work directly with NCS artists and perform for NCS audiences.
NCS is dedicated to giving voice to new art and has presented more than 50 U.S. or world premieres in its history. In 2017, NCS appeared at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as one of four orchestras chosen for the inaugural year of SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras—an honor that recognized the Symphony’s creative programming and innovative community partnerships.
The first state-supported symphony in the country, NCS performs under the auspices of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.