Eugene Symphony Board of Directors appoints Michael Anderson as Interim Executive Director

Posted on June 05, 2023

After eleven years as Eugene Symphony Association’s Executive Director, Scott Freck is stepping down to take his professional career in a new direction. His exceptional leadership is widely recognized and appreciated. Eugene Symphony is a strong, vibrant, and innovative centerpiece of the performing arts community, and much of our continuing success is due to his dedication.

The Eugene Symphony Association Board of Directors has launched a search for a new Executive Director. To assist in the process, and to help us attract the strongest talent, we have hired a professional search firm, Aspen Leadership Group (ALG). The firm is nationally recognized for their success in recruiting top executives for the non-profit sector. They have a strong focus on philanthropic leadership and creating diverse pools of potential candidates. ALG will work closely with our search committee, which includes board members, staff, and musicians. Carson Keeble, Second Trombone, has graciously agreed to serve on the committee. The search process is expected to take between four and six months to complete.

The Board of Directors has also hired Michael Anderson, Principal Clarinet, as part-time Interim Executive Director. Michael has enjoyed a long and varied career as a performing arts administrator, musician, and educator. He has held leadership positions with the Oregon Bach Festival, The Shedd Institute for the Arts, Eugene Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, and Portland Baroque Orchestra. He served as Eugene Symphony’s Interim Executive Director on three previous occasions. We are very grateful for his willingness to serve again in this capacity. His appointment will be for June 15 through September 30, 2023.

Eugene Symphony is at a pivotal moment in our history as we search for both an Executive Director and a Music Director. Thanks in large part to the extraordinary commitment and creativity of the incumbents, our organization is highly regarded throughout the world or orchestral music. During the transition, the Board of Directors is committed to keeping stakeholders informed as this process moves forward. And many thanks again to all those on the search committees for their time and expertise.