Now Hiring: Executive Director — The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra

Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), a regional professional orchestra and beloved community asset, is seeking a passionate, innovative leader to join us as our next Executive Director. This is a unique opportunity to lead a thriving organization in one of America’s most desirable and culturally rich communities. The successful candidate will join a dedicated team committed to artistic excellence, community engagement, and organizational growth.

The new Executive Director will work alongside the gifted Music Director, Michael Butterman, highly skilled professional musicians, a committed Board of Trustees, and a dedicated and talented staff who support a season of Symphonic concerts and educational initiatives. 

Join us in shaping the future of this dynamic organization and continuing the tradition of excellence and innovation in orchestral music in this exciting season marked by a special performance for the nation's 250^th anniversary celebration. 

If you are interested or know someone who might be, we invite you to contact us for more information about this extraordinary opportunity to join The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra for its 41^st Season.

Applications should include a cover letter and résumé and be submitted by email to williamsburgsymphony@gmail.com no later than July 31, 2025. All applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. We welcome inquiries from candidates who bring vision, leadership, and enthusiasm for contributing to a dynamic and fast-paced organization.

About The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra

Vision: To be recognized in our region as the preeminent performing arts organization that serves all audiences

Mission: To inspire, transform, and connect our community through the power of orchestral music 

The Williamsburg Music Association, a 501(c)(3) organization, does business as The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), and was founded in 1984 in the City of Williamsburg, Virginia. In the past 40 years, the WSO has grown significantly in size, professionalism, and outreach, and is a thriving and important cultural leader in the community and the region. The WSO is considered a Group 6 orchestra with a budget of nearly $1 million. The orchestra is non-union but operates with a strict set of guidelines and offers competitive pay, allowing the orchestra to attract some of the brightest musical talent in the region. 

The Masterworks concert series is held at the state-of-the-art church, the Williamsburg Community Chapel, with 1,200+ seats, livestream technology and a professional support team (https://williamsburgsymphony.org/schedule/venue/#seating). We feel extremely fortunate to partner with a thriving community steward like the Williamsburg Community Chapel.

The WSO 2025-2026 Concert Season

• Five Masterworks Concerts featuring internationally acclaimed guest artists.
• Three Pops Concerts: This season we feature Broadway Divas, Holiday Pops, and Come Swing with Me with Paul Loren.
• Two Educational Concerts for 4th and 5th graders.
• A biennial Side-by-Side Concert with The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra with the next performance in 2027.
• Nutcracker with Virginia Regional Ballet.
• A special co-commission with the National Symphony Orchestra, written by Peter Boyer for America’s 250^th anniversary. 
• Numerous quartet and quintet concerts throughout the community. 

Education and Outreach

The WSO was founded on the principles of providing students with access to classical music and to music education and is:

• The primary partner orchestra for the Williamsburg-James City County Public School District (WJCC). The WSO provides educational concerts for all 4^th and 5^th grade students annually and brings Peter and the Wolf performances to all WJCC elementary school students every five years. 
• Is a partner to our supporting organization, the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra, providing a biennial Side-by-Side Concert.
• WSO musicians provide instrumental coaching and mentorship during the season. 
• The WSO has an instrument loan program with 60 instruments on loan each year.  
• Visiting guest artists teach masterclasses for accomplished local students.
• The WSO also offers live performances to listeners around the globe via our Livestream Membership option.

The WSO Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees (BOT) currently consists of 25 members, of which one is an ex officio, voting member representing the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra, a supporting organization. The Executive Director and Music Director are ex officio, non-voting members of the BOT. It is a working board, and trustees understand at the recruiting stage the BOT’s expectations. All trustees sign an acknowledgement affirming their understanding. Collegiality as well as nonprofit board experience and professional skills guide the Governance & Board Development Committee in board recruitment.

The WSO Music Director

Music Director Michael Butterman conducts most concerts each season. He is the Music Director of four American orchestras and a sought-after guest conductor. He is acclaimed for his creative artistry and innovative programming. Foundational to his dynamic career is a deep commitment to audience development and community engagement. As a guest conductor, Mr. Butterman has led many of the country’s preeminent ensembles, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony and Houston Symphony. Other recent appearances include performances with the Fort Worth Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Hartford Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony, California Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Spokane Symphony, El Paso Symphony, Mobile Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Pensacola Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, and Victoria Symphony (British Columbia). Summer appearances include Tanglewood, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Colorado Music Festival, and the Wintergreen Music Festival in Virginia. This season, he returns for a third time to conduct Cuba’s renowned Havana Chamber Orchestra in collaboration with pianist/composer Aldo Lopez-Gavilan.

The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra (https://www.wyomusic.org)

The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra (WYO) is a supporting organization to the WSO, both of which are independent of each other under the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) but connected through The Williamsburg Music Association. The WYO president attends the WMA Board of Trustees meetings as an ex officio, voting member, and a WMA board representative is appointed to the WYO board. The WYO offers a three-season orchestral music education program consisting of four ensembles and a symphony orchestra with weekly rehearsals as well as the Concerto Competition, Winter Chamber, Summer Music Camp, outreach performances, and a no-cost afterschool outreach violin program (M3loDy Makers) using 3-D printed violins. On May 4, 2025, the WSO musicians performed with orchestra members of the WYO in its biennial Side-by-Side concert, directed by David Grandis.

About the Greater Williamsburg Community

The Greater Williamsburg Community is a thriving, culturally rich area that plays host to people from around the globe 356 days a year, whether tourists visit Historic Colonial Williamsburg for its educational opportunities, our 4^th of July Celebration, concerts on DOG Street, or the Internationally attended Grand Illumination celebration each Winter, we offer a little bit of fun and intrigue for all ages and interests. The Greater Williamsburg Community, home to over 100,000 residents with a reach of more than 300,000 within a one-hour driving distance comprises the City of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County. All three localities, known as the Historic Triangle, played key roles in our nation’s beginnings, and many opportunities exist to learn about and understand its historical and cultural foundations. The area is home to the prestigious College of William & Mary, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, and Historic Jamestown Island. Owing to its attraction as a destination, Greater Williamsburg features a diverse business community that supports a robust economy and is an appealing retiree destination as well.

The WSO has established important and mutually beneficial collaborations with these agencies as well as with other entities in the business and nonprofit world.  

The City of Williamsburg (https://williamsburgva.gov)

Founded in 1632, Williamsburg was the first municipality in Virginia, making it the political, educational, and social center of the largest and wealthiest of the 13 colonies. In 1699, Williamsburg succeeded in Jamestown, the first permanent English-speaking settlement in the New World, as Virginia's Colonial Capital. Today, the City of Williamsburg is an independent city with an estimated population of 14,954, as of 2019. 

James City County (https://jamescitycountyva.gov)

First settled by the English colonists in 1607 at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony, the county was formally created in 1634 as James City Shire by order of King Charles I. James City County is considered one of only five original shires of Virginia to still be extant today in essentially the same political form. Tourism is a major part of the region's economy, as is high technology. 

James City County is 144.1 square miles in size and as of the 2020 census, the population was 78,254. Although politically separate from the county, the county seat is the adjacent independent city of Williamsburg. Located on the Virginia Peninsula, James City County is included in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county and the City of Williamsburg are joined in regional school (W-JCC Schools) and library (Williamsburg Regional Library) systems. 

York County (https://yorkcounty.gov)

York County, founded in 1643, is one of the oldest counties in the United States, and Yorktown is one of the three points of the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia. It is the site of the last battle and surrender of British forces in 1781 at the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War, when the patriots gained independence from Great Britain. Yorktown is linked by the National Park Service's Colonial Parkway with Colonial Williamsburg and historic attractions at Jamestown, Virginia. Heritage tourism to the Historic Triangle draws international visitors and is a major economic activity for the county.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (www.colonialwilliamsburg.org) 

Colonia Williamsburg is the world’s largest living history museum, spread over 301 acres; it features iconic sites, working tradespeople, historic taverns, and two world-class museums. The Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg includes 88 original 18th-century structures. Hundreds of houses, shops and public outbuildings are reconstructed on their original foundations. Museums, gardens, and farms offer additional glimpses of period life.

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (https://www.jyfmuseums.org )

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administers two museums of early American history, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Jamestown Settlement offers expansive exhibition galleries, an introductory film, and revitalized living-history areas exploring the convergence of the Virginia Indian, English, and West Central African cultures. The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown opened as the Yorktown Victory Center on April 1, 1976, as one of three Bicentennial centers in Virginia. The museum’s focus broadened in the 1990s to encompass the entire Revolutionary period, and two decades later underwent a phased transformation of the 22-acre site with operations moving in March 2015 from the 1976 building to the new museum. In October 2016, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown debuted its new name with permanent exhibition galleries and an introductory film, followed by new living-history areas the following spring.

The College of William & Mary (https://www.wm.edu)

A premier public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, W&M is well known for its academic reputation, beautiful campus, and vibrant community. Founded in 1693 under a royal charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, and the ninth-oldest in the English-speaking world.

Now Hiring: Executive Director ? The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra

Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

General Position Description

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief administrator and financial manager for The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) and its related activities and programs. This person is responsible for strategic planning and operational efficiencies of programs and staff, and serves as the point person for fundraising, marketing, and development of donor relationships. The Executive Director (ED) and Music Director (MD) report directly to the Chair of the Board of Trustees (BOT).

Position Responsibilities and Expectations

Administration, Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Work in conjunction with the WSO’s MD, the BOT, and the Artistic Advisory Committee to fulfill the organization’s mission
• Adopt practices that ensure effective and positive administration of all WSO operations, programs, and staff
• Attend all board meetings and committee meetings (except Governance & Board Development) as requested
• Collaborate with the MD on matters of overall artistic philosophy, musical programming, and long-range planning. The MD is responsible for the artistic direction of the orchestra and oversees artistic staff, but the Orchestra Personnel Manager and Orchestra Librarian report to the ED.
• Work with the Strategic Planning Committee to research, develop, and propose strategies to ensure the organization’s financial and artistic health
• Serve as negotiator and contracting agent with essential external constituencies, such as guest artists/conductors, foundations, and government funding agencies
• Establish, implement, and periodically review employment and administrative policies, procedures, and operational manuals for all functions.
• Conduct annual staff and contractor evaluations in coordination with the MD and Chair of the BOT.

Fundraising and Budget

• In conjunction with the BOT and MD, develop an annual budget and fundraising plan with achievable goals.
• Ensure the consistent future growth and expansion of the organization by generating new revenue streams and improving financial results.
• Provide input in conjunction with the Treasurer and the Finance & Audit Committee for the proposed annual budget and monthly financial statements.
• Operate within the approved budget, ensure maximum resource utilization, maintain the organization’s positive financial position, and uphold the organization’s fiscal integrity.
• Develop strategies for establishing and/or expanding relationships with patrons, donors, sponsors, partner agencies, corporate resources.

Public Relations, Marketing, and Communication

• As the chief WSO spokesperson, promote and increase the visibility of the organization by being active and visible in the community and by working closely with other professional, civic, and private organizations.
• Working with the Marketing & Promotion Committee, oversee the development and implementation of an annual marketing plan that includes social media, email, print, press releases, and other means to maximize concert attendance and revenue.
• Communicate regularly with the MD and BOT and provide information necessary for the BOT to function properly and make informed decisions.

Concert Production

• Work in tandem with the MD and Manager of Operations to create and implement an annual master plan for orchestra operations, including arrangement of rehearsal and concert schedules, considering and working with the schedules of other area symphony orchestras and local event producers.
• Attend rehearsals and concerts, ensure that adequate support staff are present, and verify that the required venue arrangements have been made.
• Arrange transportation and lodging for guest artists in conjunction with the Patron Services Manager. 
• Coordinate concert program advertising sales.
• Organize and coordinate ticket sales in conjunction with the Patron Services Manager.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university/college.
• At least two to five years of leadership and management experience with an orchestra, performing arts organization, or other nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and functioning in a collaborative organization.
• Proven experience in fundraising and development, including grant-writing, individual and corporate donor events, etc.
• Demonstrated communication, organizational, and managerial skills.
• Strong financial management experience and reporting skills.
• Excellent marketing and social media skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team.
• Experience and skill in working with a Board of Trustees
• Familiarity with symphony orchestras and a love for classical music.
• Basic office skills (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations) as well as experience with software for financial management, grants, and fundraising records, specifically Donor Perfect, Tix, QuickBooks, and Constant Contact data systems.

Contact Information

If you are interested or know someone who might be, we invite you to contact us for more information about this extraordinary opportunity to join The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra for its 41^st Season.

Applications should include a cover letter and résumé and be submitted by email to williamsburgsymphony@gmail.com no later than July 31, 2025. All applications will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. We welcome inquiries from candidates who bring vision, leadership, and enthusiasm for contributing to a dynamic and fast-paced organization.