December 7, 2023

CONTACT: CALEB BAILEY, 860-443-2876, [email protected]  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

ECSO Annual Instrumental Competition 2024

Click here to view the press release

The 63rd Annual ECSO Instrumental Competition finals will be held Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Evans Hall on the Connecticut College campus in New London. We are so excited to hear another year of amazing musicians and strongly encourage all to apply!

Important dates:

Jan 8, 2024 – Early application deadline, discounted non-refundable application fee ($40) with complete application including MP3 or WAV audio file.

Jan 29, 2024 – Application, non-refundable application fee ($50) due along with recording in MP3 or WAV audio file.

February 19, 2024 – Finalists are notified by phone or email.

Mar 9, 2024 – Beginning at 1pm, final round of competition is held, with live performances from contestants at Connecticut College (New London, CT).

Requirements:

Preliminary round of competition (AUDIO-ONLY RECORDING):

• One movement of a concerto from any standard solo repertoire
• This movement should demonstrate a range of techniques, skill, and musicianship.
• The soloist must have accompaniment in recording.
• Only single-take, unedited recordings will be considered.

Final round of competition (LIVE):

• A complete concerto (or a solo piece with orchestral accompaniment) of their choice
• The final round must be performed by memory.
• The concerto (or a solo piece with orchestral accompaniment) will be performed with an accompanist. Finalists are responsible for securing an accompanist. However, please contact us if you need assistance.

Eligibility and application:

• Applicants must be 25 or younger on the day of the competition. Previous winners are not eligible. Applications must be completed before the deadline.
• Complete application will include:
  (1) Online application form
  (2) Proof of age
  (3)Non-refundable application fee(4)Audio recording of preliminary round repertoire.
• For the preliminary round, only AUDIO recordings will be accepted.
• The online application form can be found on the ECSO website: https://ectsymphony.com/instrumental-competition/.

Application payment:

• Application fees can be paid by check and mailed to the ECSO office located at 289 State St, New London, Ct 06320 or send a PayPal link request to [email protected].

Other details:

• For further information or questions, you can email [email protected] or call the office at 860-443-2876.

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The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce our 2023-24 season lineup, curated by Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. Season highlights include the 100^th Anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue, The Tom Brown 6, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus singing Haydn’s Lord Nelson’s Mass, and international guest artists. From early fall to late spring, the 75-plus member professional Symphony Orchestra presents six subscription concerts annually, most of which feature guest soloists. Subscription concerts are primarily performed at the historic award-winning Garde Arts Center on State Street in New London.

Visit ectsymphony.com for more information and follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) @ectsymphony. In addition to a range of affordable single-ticket options—from $65 to as low as $12—the ECSO offers those under 40 years of age and active or retired military members $12 tickets in selected sections.

Founded in 1946 by Norwegian immigrant Victor Norman, the ECSO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the eastern Connecticut region, including New London, Norwich, Waterford, Groton, Mystic, Old Lyme, and East Lyme. Recent concerts in Norwich, Willimantic, and Stonington reflect our renewed dedication to serving a broader area.

Our mission is to inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.

 

Contact: Caleb Bailey, [email protected]; 860-443-2876

Mozart, Marx, Beethoven- Saturday, January 27, 2024, 7:30 pm

Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London, CT 06320

Click here to view the press release

In between the Mozart and the Beethoven on the program, the ECSO will be joined by harpists Colleen Potter Thorburn (former ECSO principal harp), a Virginia Commonweath University faculty member, and Jaclyn Wappel to present the Double Harp Concerto of Bill Marx. Marx is the adopted son of Harpo Marx and Susan Fleming, and became his father’s music arranger and conductor at age 16. Though Harpo, the non-speaking Marx Brother, did not read music, he eventually learned proper harp technique from celebrated harpist Mildred Dilling.

Bill Marx says that his relationship with Harpo was “as good a relationship as father and son can possibly have. He was a kind, gentle, and understanding human being.” Harpo Marx played the harp entirely by ear, never learning to read or write a note of music. The visual dynamics of the Double Harp Concerto are another way of paying homage to him. To Bill Marx music is all about “enjoyment,” and he’s “quite honored” that the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is performing his Double Harp Concerto thereby perpetuating the tradition of musical enjoyment to audiences in New London and beyond.

January 27 is the 267th anniversary of the birth of Mozart in Salzburg. To mark the occasion, as a highlight of the ECSO’s first concert of 2024, Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada will lead a performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C Major, known as the “Jupiter.” Mozart completed his last and, at about 30 minutes, longest symphony in 1788, pointing the way to the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major will conclude the concert, performed by ECSO Instrumental Competition winner Jinyoung Yoon, a South Korean-born graduate of Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Written in 1806, the concerto was forgotten until it was revived in London, conducted by Felix Mendelssohn with 12-year-old Joseph Joachim as soloist.

There will be a complimentary post-concert reception.

This concert is generously sponsored by American Landscape and Lawn Science.

To purchase tickets:

Single tickets to events are available for purchase through the ECSO and Garde Arts Center website at ectsymphony.com and gardearts.org, or by calling the Garde Arts Center box office at 860-444-7373, ext. 1.

In addition to a range of affordable single-ticket options—from $65 to as low as $12—the ECSO offers those under 40 years of age and active or retired military members $12 tickets in selected sections.

Subscribing to the ECSO’s concert season provides a significant discount versus purchasing individual tickets, secures your seats, and grants you access to complimentary vouchers which you can use to bring along family or friends.

Colleen Thorburn Bio:

Colleen Potter Thorburn has performed widely throughout the United States, most recently as tenured Principal Harpist with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra (ECSO) from 2012-2023, as a regular substitute with the Virginia Symphony and Richmond Symphony Orchestra from 2015- 2023, and as a founding member of chamber ensembles such as Apple Orange Pair with horn player Emily Boyer (horn and harp), Duo Shockoe with harpist Jaclyn Wappel (harp duo), and the Thorburn Duo with Benjamin Thorburn, bass-baritone.

Colleen has performed as an orchestral harpist and harp fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and the International Festival-Institute at Round Top; as a concerto soloist with Symphony Nova in Boston, with the ECSO, and with Virginia Commonwealth University’s Symphony as part of its international Villa-Lobos Festival; as a chamber musician with the Atlantic Music Festival in Maine and as an artist-in-residence with Connecticut Summerfest in Hartford; and as a freelancer with diverse ensembles, including back-up harp for Kanye West’s Chicago-area shows and as a member of Three Penny Chorus and Orchestra on the 2013 season of America’s Got Talent.

An enthusiastic educator, Colleen recently joined the teaching faculty of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where she teaches Music Theory and Music Appreciation courses as well as Harp. Previously, she taught Music Theory, Aural Skills, Keyboard Skills courses, and Harp at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. She has taught as a guest clinician for the American Youth Harp Ensemble’s summer session in Richmond, the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Harp Society’s “Philly Harp Day,” the Virginia Harp Center’s “RVA Harp Day” and “Ensemble Day” in Midlothian, VA, and she has presented recitals at the American Harp Society’s National Summer Institutes at St. Olaf in Minnesota and at Utah State University in Logan, UT, with the Thorburn Duo and Apple Orange Pair.

Colleen is a past winner of the national American Harp Society Anne Adams Awards. She holds DMA, MMA, and MM degrees in harp performance from the Yale School of Music, and a BM degree from the University of Illinois in Champaign, studying with harpists June Han and Ann Yeung, respectively.

Jaclyn Wappel Bio:

Dr. Jaclyn Wappel, a seasoned performer, instructor, and accomplished scholar, has showcased her talents on international stages, captivating audiences throughout the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, Peru, and India with mesmerizing recitals, masterclasses, and workshops. Her passion for music inspired by Southeast and East Asian cultures is prominent in her musical contributions to the harp community as well as reflected in her role on the American Harp Society Journal’s Editorial Board.

In 2016 she earned her Doctor of Arts degree from Ball State University under the tutelage of Elizabeth Richter and recently moved from Kansas to South Korea where she maintains an active private harp studio and continues to share her music in various performance settings.

Jaclyn’s teaching journey includes positions at Minot State University, James Madison University, Southern Virginia University, and Washington and Lee University. Her musical talent has taken her to prestigious orchestras, including the Kansas City Symphony, Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra, Charlottesville Opera, Richmond Symphony, and more.

Beyond her musical talents, Jaclyn is a licensed massage therapist, embracing holistic practices in her professional and personal life. She finds balance through activities like hiking, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and yoga. In her leisure moments, Jaclyn enjoys the simple pleasures, spending quality time with her husband Chris, and cuddling with her beloved beagle, Ruby.

Jinyoung Yoon Bio:

Jinyoung Yoon was born in South Korea in 1998. She started playing the violin at the age of 5 and attended Yewon Middle School of Music in Seoul.

While studying with Joseph Kim and Boksu Kim, Jinyoung won the grand prize in Music Education Newspaper Competition and first prize in Baroque Competition in Korea.

 Ms. Yoon has appeared as a soloist with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Myung-Whun Chung. In 2010, she was selected to perform in the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series. In 2012, she was accepted to Juilliard Pre-College program, and studied with Hyo Kang. She won the Pre-college Assemble Competition and performed as a soloist at the annual Juilliard orchestra concert.

She has attended the Yellow Barn Music Festival, Great Mountains International Music Festival, Sejong International Festival, Heifetz International Music institute for Ashkenasi/Kirshbaum program, and violin Masterclasses at Kronberg Academy.

She’s been invited to some of the great violin competitions such as the Menuhin Competition, Montreal Competition, and the Singapore International Violin Competition. She has had masterclasses with Donald Weilerstein, Augustin Hadelich, and Benjamin Schmid. Her previous teachers include Bok-soo Kim, Joseph Kim, Hyo Kang, and Elissa Koljonen.

She entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2016, and studied with Aaron Rosand is now studying with Midori. Ms. Yoon won the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra Instrumental Competition in 2023.

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The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce our 2023-24 season lineup, curated by Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. Season highlights include the 100^th Anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue, The Tom Brown 6, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus singing Haydn’s Lord Nelson’s Mass, and international guest artists. From early fall to late spring, the 75-plus member professional Symphony Orchestra presents six subscription concerts annually, most of which feature guest soloists. Subscription concerts are primarily performed at the historic award-winning Garde Arts Center on State Street in New London.

Visit ectsymphony.com for more information and follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) @ectsymphony. In addition to a range of affordable single-ticket options—from $65 to as low as $12—the ECSO offers those under 40 years of age and active or retired military members $12 tickets in selected sections.

Founded in 1946 by Norwegian immigrant Victor Norman, the ECSO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the eastern Connecticut region, including New London, Norwich, Waterford, Groton, Mystic, Old Lyme, and East Lyme. Recent concerts in Norwich, Willimantic, and Stonington reflect our renewed dedication to serving a broader area.

Our mission is to inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.

 

November 2, 2023

CONTACT: CALEB BAILEY, 860-443-2876, [email protected]  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

Click here to view the press release

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra announces new contracted members of the orchestra following auditions

Following recent auditions on October 28 and October 29, the ECSO announces that Phil Snedecor has won the position of Principal Trumpet and Lucas Zeiter won the Bassoon II position.

The judges’ panel was deeply impressed with the level of artistry displayed by the applicants and they are excited that these positions have been filled following recent vacancies.

Both winners will add substantially to their respective sections and have performed with the ECSO in past concerts as substitute players. More auditions for other orchestra vacancies are planned for later in the season, and information will be posted on the ECSO website when the 2024 auditions are finalized. Detailed soloist bios follow in this release.

Phil Snedecor, ECSO Principal Trumpet Bio:

Phil Snedecor attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he received the prestigious Performers Certificate and was a member of the premiere brass quintet, the Canterbury Brass. While earning his degrees in trumpet performance and literature, he also studied arranging and composition with Professor Rayburn Wright, formerly arranger for Radio City Music Hall. Mr. Snedecor is a former member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has held one-year positions with the National Symphony, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the Baltimore Opera. Mr. Snedecor has performed and toured throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, and has appeared as guest principal trumpet with the St. Petersburg (Russia) “Tschaikowski” Orchestra, joining them on their 2012 US Tour. Recently Mr. Snedecor has been in demand as a guest principal with the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra and the Louisville Orchestra, and as guest trumpeter for the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony, both at Symphony Hall in Boston and at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. 

As a show player, he has performed in the touring productions of Guys & Dolls, Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Evita and West Side Story. He has recorded under the RCA, CBS, Gothic, Koss, and Summit labels. Phil’s solo CDs, The Lyrical Trumpet I and II are also available on the Summit Label.

In 1993 Mr. Snedecor and National Symphony Principal Trombonist Milton Stevens co-founded The Washington Symphonic Brass, a 17-piece professional brass ensemble.  They perform regularly for the Washington National Cathedral, St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the Basilica at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and with the Washington Choral Arts Society at the Kennedy Center. They were the official instrumental ensemble for the Papals visit of 2008 and 2015 in Washington DC and are heard regularly in their own concert series in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Their critically acclaimed CDs are available on the Summit and Warner Classics labels. Phil’s innovative programming and arranging for the WSB has led to several guest conductor appearances, including the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, the River City Brass Band (Pittsburgh) and the Breckenridge (CO) Brass.

In 2012, Mr. Snedecor founded the DC Pops Orchestra, a 30-piece ensemble featuring some of the best Jazz and crossover artists in the region. This group has provided music for the elite of Washington in prestigious venues such at the National Building Museum and Mellon Auditorium.

Mr. Snedecor is Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford) in Hartford Connecticut, and a former faculty member at George Mason University, The Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins University) and Towson University. Phil is well known by trumpetsers and tuba players alike for has series of brass etude books that are required repertoire at many colleges and conservatories. His arrangements and compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Please visit his websites (www.wsbrass.com, www.philsnedecor.com and www.pasmusic.com)  for more information.

Lucas Zeiter, Bassoon II Bio:

Lucas Zeiter is a bassoonist, collaborative musician, educator, and composer in the Northeastern United States. Hailed for his commitment to high level music-making, Lucas is an active orchestral, chamber, and solo musician performing throughout the US.  Apart from his recent appointment as Second Bassoon of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, Lucas has performed regularly with the New Haven Symphony, and holds substitute positions with the Seattle Symphony, Hartford Symphony, and Orchestra New England. Outside of the regular performance season, Lucas has performed at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival and School, Sewanee Music Center, and Marrowstone Music Festival, as well alternate musician at the Tanglewood Music Center. At Sewanee, Lucas was a winner of the 2018 Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition, performing the Weber Bassoon Concerto under the direction of Robert Moody.

Outside of a regular performance schedule, Lucas is dedicated to accessibility for all in music education as well as promoting inclusivity in concert halls.  As a music educator, Lucas teaches at the Yale Music in Schools Initiative, and has participated as a teaching artist for the Chamber Music Center of New York, the Kaufman Music Center, and the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division.

Lucas currently attends the Yale School of Music pursuing a Master of Musical Arts under the tutelage of Frank Morelli. Formerly, he attended the Manhattan School of Music for his Master of Music in Orchestral Performance, and the University of Washington for his Bachelor of Music, under the instruction of Seth Krimsky.

*  *  *  *  *

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce our 2023-24 season lineup, curated by Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. Season highlights include the 100^th Anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue, The Tom Brown 6, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus singing Haydn’s Lord Nelson’s Mass, and international guest artists. From early fall to late spring, the 75-plus member professional Symphony Orchestra presents six subscription concerts annually, most of which feature guest soloists. Subscription concerts are primarily performed at the historic award-winning Garde Arts Center on State Street in New London.

Visit ectsymphony.com for more information and follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) @ectsymphony. In addition to a range of affordable single-ticket options—from $65 to as low as $12—the ECSO offers those under 40 years of age and active or retired military members $12 tickets in selected sections.

Founded in 1946 by Norwegian immigrant Victor Norman, the ECSO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the eastern Connecticut region, including New London, Norwich, Waterford, Groton, Mystic, Old Lyme, and East Lyme. Recent concerts in Norwich, Willimantic, and Stonington reflect our renewed dedication to serving a broader area.

Our mission is to inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.

 

October 21 Gershwin & Dixieland – 9.21.23
Contact: Caleb Bailey, [email protected]; 860-443-2876

Click here to view the press release

EASTERN CONNECTICUT SYMPHONY OPENS 77^TH SEASON OCT. 21

Blue Attire Suggested for Centennial of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra’s 77^th season, comprising six Saturday-evening concerts at the Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street in downtown New London, will begin on Oct. 21, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. Led by Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada, the orchestra will play works by Amy Beach, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, George Gershwin, and Tom Myron, shifting into Dixieland mode for a joint performance with the Tom Brown 6. The concert is sponsored by Olde Mistick Village.

Six- and four-concert subscriptions for the ECSO’s 2023-24 season may be purchased by calling 860-443-2876 or visiting ectsymphony.com. Tickets for individual concerts—on Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 30, and April 27—go on sale at gardearts.org on Sept. 25.

To kick off its 77^th season, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra will present a festive program of short works in several styles. First up: a world premiere, Monhegan Sunrise (Peace Fanfare), by Massachusetts-based composer Tom Myron, inspired by dawn on the rocky Maine island. Originally a waltz for solo piano, the 1893 Bal masqué by New Hampshire-born Amy Beach, the first successful woman composer in the U.S., will follow, depicting the spirited masked ball of the title.

Closing out the first half, the most famous clarinet “smear” in classical music will signal the start of George Gershwin’s jazz-influenced Rhapsody in Blue, which turns 100 early next year. Taking on the solo keyboard part that Gershwin himself played at the 1924 premiere will be versatile Connecticut-based pianist Gary Chapman. Speaking of rhapsodies, The Bamboula, composed in 1905 by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the son of an English mother and an African father, is subtitled Rhapsodic Dance for Orchestra. The evening will go out in New Orleans style, with traditional jazz arrangements of familiar tunes performed by the Tom Brown 6, a Dixieland band, led by former ECSO Principal Trumpet Thomas Brown, who was also a U.S. Coast Guard Band member from 2002 until his recent retirement.

Attendees are encouraged to wear blue to celebrate the centennial of Gershwin’s masterpiece at the Oct. 21 concert and the post-concert reception.

To purchase tickets:

Subscribing to the ECSO’s concert season provides a significant discount versus purchasing individual tickets, secures your seats, and grants you access to complimentary vouchers which you can use to bring along family or friends.

Single tickets to events will be available for purchase through the ECSO and Garde Arts Center website at gardearts.org beginning September 25, 2023.

Our mission is to inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.

 

September 21 , 2023                      

CONTACT: CALEB BAILEY, 860-443-2876, [email protected]  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

Click here to view the press release

Press Release- October 20 Concert to Honor Veterans in Willimantic

EASTERN CONNECTICUT SYMPHONY TO PERFORM IN WILLIMANTIC, OCT. 2O

Free Concert at ECSU Will Feature Armed Forces Medley, Dixieland, Rhapsody in Blue

As a special addition to the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra’s 77^th season, the New London-based orchestra, led by Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada, will give a free public concert in Willimantic on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at 7:00pm. Sponsored by ASA Environmental Products, Inc. and Chelsea Groton Bank, the concert will take place in Eastern Connecticut State University’s Fine Arts Instructional Center Concert Hall, 306 High Street, on the ECSU campus. All ages are welcome.

To reserve free tickets, veterans or family of veterans may email [email protected] or you may click the link below!

Reserve Tickets

Area veterans are encouraged to attend. To honor them, the ECSO will play a medley of the official songs of the six services of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force.

After performing works by Amy Beach, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and George Gershwin, the ECSO will “shift gears” to play familiar tunes in Dixieland style with the Tom Brown 6, a group led by Principal Trumpet Tom Brown, who recently retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Band. Versatile Connecticut-based pianist Gary Chapman will be the soloist for the Gershwin piece, the famous Rhapsody in Blue, which premiered almost exactly 100 years ago, with Gershwin himself at the keyboard.

The ECSO most recently performed in Willimantic in February of 2020. The free series helps to celebrate the connection between the Willimantic area and the orchestra, which was formed from the 1954 merger of the New London Symphony and the Willimantic Symphony. Another well-received series brings the ECSO to Norwich annually to present a free Palm Sunday concert at the Cathedral of St. Patrick.

In New London, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra’s 2023-24 season of six Saturday-evening concerts at the Garde Arts Center, 289 State Street, begins on Oct. 21. Six- and four-concert subscriptions may be purchased by calling 860-443-2876 or visiting ectsymphony.com. Tickets for individual concerts—on Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 30, and April 27—go on sale at gardearts.org on Sept. 25.

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July 18, 2023                      

CONTACT: CALEB BAILEY, 860-443-2876, [email protected]  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

Click here for job description PDF

Job Announcement – ECSO seeks full-time Executive Coordinator

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is seeking a creative and energetic professional to serve as Executive Coordinator. This is a wonderful opportunity to support one of Connecticut’s premier professional symphony orchestras in its next phase of growth. Under the leadership of Executive Director, Caleb Bailey, an imaginative and dynamic maestro – Toshiyuki Shimada, and the Board of Directors, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra’s mission is to “inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.”

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Executive Coordinator will be responsible for the overall business operation of the symphony office, including the box office, front-of-house operations, education programs, and events. Front-facing people skills are essential in this position and used daily, through interfacing with patrons, donors, venue staff, Board members, and other contacts in fast-moving events and scenarios. This position also leads the recruitment and management of student interns that assist the ECSO in various departments.

The Executive Coordinator will also be integrally involved in coordinating the symphony’s annual giving efforts, including phone and mail solicitations, donor tracking, and event planning. Additionally, the person in this position will have the opportunity to spearhead or collaborate on marketing materials and social media efforts.

The successful candidate must be passionate about music and will hold at least an Associate’s degree and/or have at least 3 years of experience in an administrative role. Excellent oral and written communication skills, organizational and systems thinking, and an ability to work collaboratively with a range of constituencies are essential. Past non-profit or education experience also preferred.

Facility with or a demonstrated ability to learn a variety of office systems and software, including Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Word, Excel, Publisher) and Adobe Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere) required. Knowledge of or experience with marketing, design, online software (such as Canva or Constant Contact), and/or customer relationship management databases a considerable plus. This is a full-time position with a salary range of $42,000 – $45,000 per year depending on experience.

Office hours are 9am to 5pm, with some nights and weekends required. While this is not a remote work position, some flexibility may be arranged for remote work on occasion.  This position requires the candidate to be in the New London office and at events. For full job description, visit the ECSO website – www.ectsymphony.com.

Please submit résumé, at least one professional reference, and cover letter to Caleb Bailey at [email protected], or mail in application materials to ECSO, c/o Caleb Bailey, 289 State St., New London, CT 06320.

About the ECSO:

The mission of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is to “inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.”

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the eastern Connecticut and western Rhode Island region. Recent concerts in Norwich and Willimantic reflect our renewed dedication to serving a broader area. New London, where the ECSO office is located, is a community with a growing arts scene.

The ECSO typically offers a season of 6 classical concerts, an adult chorus, youth ensembles/orchestra, plus special programming and educational offerings. ECSO musicians are drawn from the excellent artist pool available locally as well as New Haven, Hartford, Providence, New York City, Boston area. A number of the musicians are current or former members of the United States Coast Guard Band, which is located in New London. The orchestra has about 65 contracted musicians, and its annual budget is $700,000.

The ECSO is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! We are building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging – so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application.

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