Dear Friends,
A little more than a year ago we started an internal conversation at Phoenix about where we wanted to see the organization go in the next decade and beyond. After years of steady growth, we wanted to sit down and have the kind of conversations we had when we were starting the orchestra. To dream big and imagine the possibilities.
Throughout these conversations, it was evident that the only thing keeping us from realizing a bigger, bolder vision for Phoenix was the time and capacity to do more ambitious work. We knew that in order to do things like grow our shows to be bigger and better, sell out larger venues, take on serious recording projects, and commission our favorite composers to write amazing works for Phoenix, it was time to examine our leadership structure and ensure it would support this grander vision.
I am thrilled to share that, beginning next season, I will become Phoenix’s first dedicated Executive Director.
This is a critical step in our continued evolution, and will allow me to focus on sustaining and advancing Phoenix’s relationships with audiences and supporters, musicians and staff, community and partners. While I will no longer be conducting the orchestra from the podium, I want all of our dedicated fans to know that the Phoenix you know and love is not changing, only getting better. Our mission remains to create social and accessible experiences around classical music with the same vibe and atmosphere that you’ve always loved.
On Wednesday, we will be sharing the news of the appointment of our next Music Director, and I hope you’ll tune in and join us in welcoming this mystery person to the Phoenix family. We are so, SO PUMPED to welcome them to the organization and get started building the future of Phoenix together.
I want to thank all of our fans, families, and donors for getting Phoenix to where it is today. We seriously, seriously can’t thank you enough for all of your incredible support over these seven years and we quite literally would not still be doing this without you. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to every musician that’s played in Phoenix, whether for one concert or twenty, for letting me make music with you. I want to give a VERY special shoutout to Concertmaster Zenas Hsu, Principal 2nd Violin Janny Joo, Violist Elizabeth Stefan, and Phoenix’s Principal Bassoonist and General Manager Christina Dioguardi, all of whom have been with Phoenix since our very first concert at OBERON on March 24th, 2015.
I cannot wait to help lead Phoenix to new heights in this next chapter of our story and I hope you’ll follow along this week as we finally get to share the details of our ambitious future.
Phoenix fans, stay tuned: The best, as they say, is yet to come.
Best wishes,
Matt Szymanski
Executive Director, Phoenix