In Tuesday’s (1/17) Boston Globe, Geoff Edgers reports, “Jessica Schmidt, until recently the senior director of public programs for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, reported to work yesterday to become the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s new director of education and community engagement. Her position is being named for Helaine B. Allen, a longtime supporter and overseer emerita who recently gave the BSO a $1 million gift to support its education and community programs. Schmidt, 33, replaces Myran Parker-Brass, who left the BSO last May to become executive director for the arts for the Boston Public Schools. Schmidt studied the French horn at Indiana University before earning a graduate degree in arts administration and a master of business administration from Southern Methodist University. Before Pittsburgh, she worked at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.” Schmidt has also been active on a national level by serving on both the education and diversity committees of the League of American Orchestras. “As the head of education, Schmidt will oversee those concerts as well as a number of other outreach programs, including family concerts, community chamber concerts, the orchestra’s concerto competition, the high school open rehearsal program, and a teen internship program.”
Jessica Schmidt with Artistic Administrator Tony Fogg (left) and Managing Director Mark Volpe
Photo by Stu Rosner
Posted January 18, 2012
