In Friday’s (3/1) Springfield News (Ohio), Andrew McGinn writes, “As a South High School student in the horn section of the Springfield Youth Symphony, Robyn Zimmann never envisioned herself as executive director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. … Beginning June 1, Zimmann will assume the title of executive director in time to lead the SSO into its historic 70th season this fall. A Springfielder who also counts Wittenberg University among her alma maters, Zimmann has worked as the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s director of operations and education since 2004. Current executive director and 30-year Army veteran David Deitrick is retiring from the job after nine years. ‘Dave has been a wonderful mentor for me,’ Zimmann said. ‘I want to see the good work we’ve done continue.’ Under the leadership of Deitrick—who previously served as commander of bands at West Point for eight of those 30 years—the local symphony saw its endowment double in size, to more than $3 million. … [Zimmann] graduated from Wittenberg in 1981 and, in the process, also graduated from the youth symphony to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, becoming the orchestra’s assistant principal hornist. … The job comes with just one catch—Zimmann, who’s performed with the SSO for 32 years, will have to put away her French horn.”
Posted March 1, 2013
