Press Release – ECSO Board Member appointments 23-24
ECSO Board Member appointments – 8.3.23
Contact: Caleb Bailey, [email protected]; 860-443-2876
Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra appoints three new board members
Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra announces that following its annual meeting the organization has appointed three new board members. The new board members are Jonathan Nickerson, Paul Sweeney, and Maura Harrington, and they represent a broad range of geographic affiliation and talents.
Caleb Bailey, Executive Director of the ECSO commented, “We are fortunate to have these board members’ skills and personalities joining our organization. This is a very exciting time in our history, and the energy that they all bring to the table will help us move forward with bringing live orchestral music to the community.”
Jonathan Nickerson is a 1984 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Illinois. He served 23 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Coast Guard and later retired and joined AIM Consulting Associates in 2007 providing leadership and management services for 13 years to government agencies, international partners, universities and colleges, and fortune 500 companies. During his years of retirement, Jon has volunteered services to numerous local organizations. He served three years on the Board of Directors for the Stonington Community Center (COMO) and was the Board President from 2015 to 2017. Jon chaired master planning and exhibition design committees for the future National Coast Guard Museum, and he facilitated planning efforts at the Mystic Museum of Art and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. Jon is an active outdoorsman, artist, and museum enthusiast. Jon and his wife, Christine, reside in Pawcatuck. They enjoy travel and live musical performances. They also treasure time with their two adult children, Michael and Laura, and a recent newborn granddaughter, Ellie Nickerson.
Paul Sweeney is a Professional Engineer (PE) and is the owner/principal of Riverside Engineering LLC, a consulting engineering business offering expert witness and crane and rigging services since 2015. In the past, he has worked for the Veteran’s Administration in Washington D.C. and General Dynamics Electric Boat for 31 years. Paul currently is an Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of New Haven and was an Adjunct Professor of Mathematics at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. He has professional memberships at ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), ASME B30 Main Committee (crane/rigging safety standards), ASME B30.1, B30.20, B30.28, B30.31, and ASME BTH-1 (design committee), ASSP (American Society of Safety Professionals), and ACRP (Association of Crane and Rigging Professionals).
Maura K. Harrington was the Executive VP Insurance Underwriter at Prudential Insurance and attended Providence College. She is a mother of two grown children and focuses on philanthropy and volunteer opportunities that serve the needs of the elderly, underserved and homeless by incorporating music and dance with her involvement. Maura believes these important social causes need the assistance of those who know the great fortune of an abundant life; and that the same is true for the arts. She has volunteered at the Massachusetts General Hospital, St. Celia Parish in Boston, Parent Association Beaver Country Day School, and A Faith That Does Justice where she is also the lead sponsor. She sponsors numerous other organizations such as Boston Center for the Arts, National Ballet of Canada, Womens Lunch Place, Mass College of Art, Ogunquit Playhouse Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), Good Shepherd Food Bank, and the Eastern CT Symphony Orchestra.
Board President Liane Crawford had the following statement “I am delighted to welcome Jon Nickerson, Maura Harrington and Paul Sweeney to our ECSO Board of Directors. Now celebrating our 77th year, we continue to present high caliber live orchestral music for the greater New London and Eastern CT communities. Jon, Maura and Paul bring new talent, energy and commitment to our dedicated Board and to our mission to inspire, educate and connect our communities through live orchestral music.”
About the ECSO:
We are thrilled to announce our 23-24 Season lineup, curated by Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. Season highlights include 100th Year 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 www.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 also 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.