December 22, 2021
Fort Wayne Philharmonic Board of Directors Names
Brittany A. Hall as New President and CEO

First Woman to Lead Will Assume New Role January 3, 2022

The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Board of Directors voted today to appoint Brittany A. Hall as the Philharmonic’s new President and CEO.

Rising from Assistant Managing Director, Hall will become the first woman in Philharmonic’s history to serve in that role. She will begin her responsibilities on Jan. 3, 2022. The appointment follows last month’s announcement that Managing Director James W. Palermo is leaving his post to lead a new, local nonprofit.

As Assistant Managing Director, Hall worked collaboratively with the entire Philharmonic team to exceed revenue goals and strengthen internal operations and culture, all while leading through challenges created by the pandemic. Hall brings a deep commitment to relationship building and strong history of goal-oriented success to her new role.

Hall came to the Philharmonic following transformative success during her previous leadership as Executive Director at Binghamton Philharmonic. During her 5-year tenure, she reduced the annual operating deficit gap, increased ticket sales, and implemented new partnerships with local arts organizations to elevate that orchestra’s visibility and relevance within the community.

“The opportunity to strengthen the Fort Wayne Philharmonic into its next chapter is an honor,” said Hall, 35. “Our collaborative work will include engaging the Board in establishing goals and priorities for the organization through a strategic planning process that engages musicians, donors, patrons, community leaders and the administrative teams.

“We are fortunate to have a dedicated Board of Directors, talented and passionate musicians, and a community that appreciates live music and the arts. We must bring these great minds together and engage everyone in the future planning of this remarkable orchestra, while evaluating new opportunities that bring the orchestra and our community even closer together.”

Board Chair Chuck Surack said that he is excited to work with Hall on building these priorities and planning the strategies that will set the Philharmonic up for success in the future.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Brittany these last few years as she has taken on more responsibility and am impressed by her passion for the art form and deep commitment to the stewardship and our valued donors. She will be a great asset for the Philharmonic, and I cannot wait to see what she accomplishes.”

Music Director Andrew Constantine said “In the relatively short time that Brittany has been in Fort Wayne, she has become respected and admired in the community. With Brittany’s terrific work ethic, I look forward to partnering with her in taking the philharmonic forwards over the coming years!”

Brittany said she plans to use the transition time to embark on a listening tour, including meeting with Board members, musicians, staff, donors, and other community members as she begins her new role.

“We must continue to develop and grow with our community, become more relevant and strive to reach every resident in our region with live orchestral music. The Philharmonic’s future is bright, and this is a key transitional moment to move forward, continue to build collaborative relationships and strengthen the sustainability of the Philharmonic,” she said.

Hall, 35 holds a Master of Science degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Industry from State University of New York. In 2017 she was selected as an Emerging Leader from the League of American Orchestras. Previously, Hall served as Executive Director at Binghamton Philharmonic and in leadership for the Erie Philharmonic. Prior to coming to Fort Wayne, Hall served on several boards including the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, Binghamton Noon Rotary, and the Clyde-Savannah Public Library. Regionally, she is an incoming board member of ACRES Land Trust.

Now in its 78th season, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic is one of the most exciting performing arts organizations in Indiana. The Philharmonic’s mission is to inspire and foster a lifelong love of symphonic music through performance and education. Led by Music Director Andrew Constantine, Philharmonic performances reach more than 200,000 people every season at the historic Embassy Theatre, Auer Concert Hall, and at various venues throughout the community, including schools, nursing homes, community centers, and churches. The Fort Wayne Philharmonic is truly an orchestra of the future, with bold plans to reach deeply into the fabric of the community with exciting, entertaining, and meaningful offerings. The Philharmonic reaches more than 39,000 young people and families through its extensive education and community engagement programs, including Ensembles in the Schools, Young People’s Concerts, and Club Orchestra - a novel El Sistema modeled collaborative program with three Fort Wayne Community Schools - inspiring and motivating young citizens of the future. Regional touring, donor cultivation, and Board activities round out a busy schedule for the orchestra.

 

Updated on 1-31-22 to reflect title change.