Company Profile
Company Overview
Now entering its 51st season, the Eugene Symphony is widely recognized as a cornerstone of the performing arts in Oregon’s southern Willamette Valley. Under the leadership of Music Director Danail Rachev and Executive Director Scott Freck, the Eugene Symphony pursues its mission to "enrich lives through the power of music" by presenting annual classical, summer, and community outreach performances, commissioning and premiering new American works, and disseminating its performances via radio broadcasts.
Guided by its Long Range Plan, first established in 2005 and updated regularly, the Eugene Symphony serves, educates, and develops the widest possible regional audience through its programs. Approximately 25,000 community members attend the Eugene Symphony’s classical, family, and special performances each year. Up to an additional 21,000 children, adults, and seniors take part in annual education and community engagement initiatives, including family and youth concerts, in-school ensemble performances, subsidized concert tickets, artist residencies, and pre-concert lectures for adults. Through its annual broadcast series on classical radio KWAX, the Eugene Symphony brings its full season of classical concerts to 45,000 local and worldwide listeners monthly.
The Eugene Symphony’s 50th Anniversary season in 2015/16 comprised nine classical concerts, including the returns of former music directors Harth-Bedoya and Guerrero, three world-premiere commissioned works by some of America’s leading composers, and a special performance with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. It also featured a forward-looking concert event entitled SymFest led by Conductor Laureate Marin Alsop, free outdoor summer performances in three communities in the Willamette Valley, concerts for student audiences, and a wide array of education and community engagement activities. The Symphony recently announced that the 2016/17 season will be Mo. Rachev’s last as Music Director, as he steps down to pursue new artistic challenges. An international search to identify his successor is now underway, led by noted industry authority Roger Saydack.
The Eugene Symphony is a professional orchestra operating under a collective bargaining agreement, recently renewed through the 2016/17 season, and also supports the Eugene Symphony Chorus. The Eugene Symphony Association is governed by a 30-member Board of Directors and receives support from the volunteer members of the Eugene Symphony Guild; there is an administrative staff of 11 including full-time and part-time employees. A separate Trustee Board oversees an Endowment currently valued at $5 million in assets. The Eugene Symphony has an operating budget of $2.5 million for 2016/17.
Benefits
Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits offered include health, dental and vision care plans, vacation and sick leave, and paid parking.