Brooke Welsh of Tyrone has been introduced as the new executive director of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.
She assumed her duties July 1.
In her role, she has ideas for bringing a new community awareness of the symphony.
“While Brooke has joined our existing staff, Pat Hofscher will be staying,” said Bill Locher, president of the symphony board. “Brooke will be working with marketing, fundraising and grant writing. I don’t think the symphony has done as well with that in the past. We’re happy to have her on board.
“We want to get word out to the community that Brooke is here and increase the appearance of the orchestra in the community.”
Welsh grew up in Tyrone and worked as executive director for Altoona Symphony Orchestra for more than three years.
While she was at Altoona, the symphony received grants and sponsorships on the local, state and national levels.
Welsh has participated in various fundraising workshops through the League of American Orchestras and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
“I worked in arts management and interned for the Philadelphia Orchestra,” Welsh said. “That’s where I fell in love with the field, learning what an orchestra can do outside the concert hall.”
Welsh received dual bachelor degrees in music and psychology from Susquehanna University and a master’s degree in music from Temple University.
She has held leadership positions in development, marketing and community outreach with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Altoona Symphony Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra.
Welsh has taught at Philadelphia University, Settlement Music School and the Arts Conservatory of State College.
She currently teaches piano at the Music Academy of State College.
Welsh is aware of the talented musicians who make up the core of the orchestra and has no plans to change the roster.
“The musicians are very talented,” she said. “Johnstown has something special here.
“I’m excited to attend my first rehearsal on Sept. 9.
“Some of the orchestra members have been in the Altoona Symphony, so I know them.”
Welsh hopes to impact the Johnstown community with education and outreach for Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.
She has met with Richard Burkert, executive director of Johnstown Area Heritage Association, and Rosemary Pawlowski, executive director of Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center.
“We have the potential to grow our organization and still stay true to our mission, which is to offer concerts with a high level of performance,” Locher said.
“We want to be better connected with the community at large.”
Welsh plans to build more awareness of the symphony through marketing.
The symphony’s website is being updated, and a dive into social media is planned.
“I don’t want us to serve one portion of the community,” Welsh said. “Music can touch everyone. There’s been a misperception. Children are very receptive to classical music.”
One of Welsh’s ideas, stemming from similar programs in other areas, is to make use of unused corporate tickets for the symphony.
“We would facilitate a program where a company would tell the office they have tickets they can’t use, and we would make them available at no cost to someone in social service agencies such as Goodwill or ACRP we would contact,” Locher said.
Welsh will be applying for a grant from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council that would fund three concerts out in the community.
“We’re going to call it the JSO Community Heritage Series,” Welsh said. “We will start with a concert in January at JAHA that has been funded.
“The others are contingent on grant funding.”
Locher said the first concert would feature a small ensemble at little or no cost in an attempt to lower the barriers to families who can’t afford a full symphony concert.
“Brooke is going to bring a lot of new ideas and energy,” Locher said. “She has a commitment to be community focused.
“We want to transform the symphony and reach out to new people.”
In a cost-containment effort, the symphony office was moved from Franklin Street to 300 Market St. in March.
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