“Gerard Gibbs on Aug. 15 will become the next executive director of the Abilene Philharmonic,” writes in Monday’s (8/1) Abilene Reporter-News (TX). “He succeeds Kevin Smith, who returned to Florida to take a music-related job with Artis Naples. Smith had been executive director since May 1, 2017…. Gibbs has a background in performance, playing the baroque and classical oboes. He has worked with the Akron Symphony, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Nevada Chamber Music Festival, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and New Spire Arts in Frederick, Md. As a musician, he performed with baroque orchestras in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and across the northern border with Vancouver and Calgary. He also has played with Waverly Consort, an American early music group. From 2002-14, Gibbs was utility oboist with the Calgary Philharmonic in Alberta. There, he founded the Fort MacLeod International Music Festival with violinist Rivka Golani. Gibbs joins the local symphony led by conductor-music director David Itkin, who will begin his 18th season with an organization entering its 72nd year.”
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