In Thursday’s (5/30) San Francisco Business Times, Renée Frojo reports, “Steven Payne was named executive director of the East Bay Performing Arts. Payne, formerly executive director of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio, will head up the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Oakland Symphony Chorus and Oakland Youth Orchestra. He will succeed former director Jennifer Duston, who retired in February after an 18-year tenure. In San Antonio, Payne grew the organization’s budget from $680,000 to $1.2 million, and an increase in students served from 450 to 1,500 annually. Before that, he was part of the management team of the Pacific Symphony in Orange County, where he served as executive director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. ‘I can’t imagine a new Executive Director with more appropriate qualifications, experience and enthusiasm than Steven Payne,’ said EBPA Board Chair Bette Epstein. … This year marks the East Bay Symphony’s 25th anniversary and the Symphony Chorus’ 55th year. It’s also the Youth Orchestra’s 50th anniversary.” Payne has been a member of the League of American Orchestras’ Youth Orchestra Division board since 2005, and chair since 2012. He is an alumnus of the League’s Executive Leadership Program.
Posted May 31, 2013
