The Lima Symphony Orchestra welcomes immediate applications for the position of Music Director available as of the 2028-2029 season.

Organization:

The Lima Symphony Orchestra proudly serves as a cultural cornerstone for Northwest Ohio. As the region’s only professional performing arts organization, we reach more than 40,000 people each year through dynamic performances, robust educational initiatives, and innovative community engagement programs. In our 72^nd season, the LSO is known for our artistic excellence, inclusive spirit, and deep commitment to ensuring that music is accessible in every corner of the community.

Each season, the LSO presents five classical Grand Series concerts, engaging pops performances, a cherished holiday concert, intimate Candlelight concerts in historic churches throughout the region, and an annual family concert. We also serve our broader community through free Patriotic Pops concerts in local parks and public spaces, extending the reach of high-quality orchestral music far beyond the concert hall.

Education and engagement are central to our mission. The LSO has built an imaginative and growing portfolio of programs that meet students where they are, from early childhood through high school. Our free Young People’s Concerts welcome more than 3,500 students annually. Symphony Storytime and Mornings with the Maestro reach preschool and early elementary students across seven counties through partnerships with public libraries, while our expanding in-school outreach brings live, interactive music directly into classrooms across Allen County. We also proudly co-sponsor the Lima Area Youth Orchestra, cultivating the next generation of young musicians.

Our community-centered initiatives, including Healing Through Music and Drumming Up Hope, bring the restorative power of music to behavioral health facilities, crisis stabilization units, and the Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution. In 2024, the LSO became the first orchestra in Ohio, and one of the few in the nation, to perform with a full ensemble inside a correctional institution. The performance featured the world premiere of a work composed by a former Allen/Oakwood inmate and a moving side-by-side performance with a 100-man choir of inmates. These programs have earned regional and national recognition for their innovation, humanity, and artistic impact.

Our annual budget is approximately $900,000.

Position:

The Music Director reports to the board of directors and is responsible for shaping the orchestra’s artistic vision, serving as its public face, and ensuring its continued artistic growth. Core responsibilities include selecting repertoire, programming each season, engaging guest artists, and overseeing all artistic production within the budget established by the board. The Music Director also holds primary authority for the selection, development, and replacement of musicians.

Beyond the podium, the LSO seeks a leader who will strengthen our visibility and engagement across the region: someone eager to connect with audiences, collaborate with educators and community partners, and champion the LSO’s education and engagement programs. The Music Director will work closely with the CEO, board president, and staff, and is expected to play an active role in fundraising and community engagement.

Artistic Performance Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight for all artistic operations of the Lima Symphony Orchestra.
• In collaboration with the Artistic Advisory Committee and the director of the Lima Symphony Chorus, select repertoire and guest artists. Determine the appropriate number and structure of rehearsals.
• Conduct all rehearsals and performances with thorough preparation, clear communication, and attention to artistic excellence.
• Work closely with the CEO, personnel manager, librarian, and staff to plan rehearsal order, instrumentation, and personnel needs well in advance of each season, ensuring efficient use of time and adherence to budgetary and contractual guidelines.
• Communicate promptly and professionally with guest artists regarding repertoire, rehearsal schedules, technical requirements, and artistic expectations.
• Write, plan, and lead educational performances, including Mornings with the Maestro, the Family Concert, and the Young People’s Concerts, ensuring content is age-appropriate, engaging, and mission-aligned.
• With the production/stage manager, determine stage layouts that best support the ensemble’s acoustical and visual presentation. Communicate any production requests, lighting cues, etc., sufficiently before the deadline established by the performance venue.

Artistic Administrative Responsibilities:

In partnership with board and staff, design the full concert season, including subscription concerts, education programs, chamber and family concerts, pops events, and special projects, with thoughtful attention to cohesion, logistics, and community impact.

• Collaborate with the CEO and board to develop long-term artistic goals that advance the orchestra’s mission and strengthen its regional presence.
• Attend board meetings to provide artistic insight, support strategic discussions, and ensure clear communication between artistic leadership, staff, and the board of directors.
• Within the guidelines of the Musicians’ Policy Statement and in collaboration with the personnel manager, oversee musician personnel decisions, approve playing personnel, conduct auditions, provide coaching or corrective guidance when concerns arise, and release musicians when necessary.
• Maintain a consistent, visible presence in the community as an artistic ambassador for the orchestra.
• Support promotional, marketing, and development efforts by participating in interviews, public appearances, donor events, media engagements, and fundraising activities.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with local music educators and support the orchestra’s growing portfolio of education and outreach initiatives.
• Represent the LSO at civic and partner-organization events, strengthening community ties and visibility.
• Participate in Friends of the Symphony events, including pre-concert luncheons and related gatherings.
• Shape and uphold the orchestra’s public artistic image throughout the region, reflecting the inclusive, innovative, and community-centered spirit of the LSO.

Successful candidates will possess exceptional musicianship and conducting skills; proven experience in programming, rehearsal planning, and leading professional orchestras with clarity, confidence, and efficiency; strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication abilities, fostering a collaborative, respectful, and inspiring environment; vision, creativity, and a passion for making symphonic music accessible, relevant, and compelling for existing and new audiences, and a commitment to innovative educational and community engagement initiatives, connecting music meaningfully to diverse audiences.

About Lima Symphony Orchestra

For more than 72 years, the Lima Symphony Orchestra has been a cornerstone of cultural life in our region, presenting 12 concerts each season that span orchestral masterworks, adventurous contemporary repertoire, chamber performances, and Pops and family programs. Our musicians are highly dedicated professionals who value thoughtful artistic leadership, collaborative rehearsal environments, and engaging performances that inspire both players and audiences. We are also proud to work with a talented volunteer chorus, whose commitment and musicality enhance a wide range of symphonic and choral repertoire. We maintain a strong commitment to education, offering programs such as Symphony Storytime, Young People’s Concerts, Mornings with the Maestro, and in-school visits with guest artists and our Music Director, and co-sponsoring the Lima Area Youth Orchestra. These initiatives provide meaningful, hands-on musical experiences for children and families throughout the region. Our impactful community engagement work extends the orchestra’s reach even further with programs such as Healing Through Music and Drumming Up Hope in behavioral health units and correctional facilities. These i...nitiatives bring live music to individuals who have limited access to the arts, fostering connection, comfort, and creative expression. Financially stable and mission-driven, we seek a Music Director who brings musical excellence, a clear artistic vision, and a genuine passion for connecting orchestral music with the diverse communities we serve.

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Connections working at Lima Symphony Orchestra