JOHN DRISCOLL will step down as executive director of Montana’s Missoula Symphony Orchestra on September 30, following a nineteen-year tenure. Driscoll will continue to work part-time for the organization through April 2019, overseeing the first stage of a search to replace Music Director Darko Butorac, who will leave at the end of the 2018-19 season following twelve years with the orchestra. JO MAY SALONEN has been named interim executive director of the Missoula Symphony, starting in September. She will serve in this position as the organization conducts a search for a permanent executive director. A longtime Missoula resident, Salonen is the former owner/partner of Salonen-Smith Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations, and has been a freelance marketing professional since 2011. She is currently secretary of the Missoula Symphony Association board of directors.
During Driscoll’s time as executive director, the Missoula Symphony’s budget more than tripled and attendance at concerts more than doubled. Driscoll led the development of several annual events and was responsible for the Missoula Symphony Association taking over the Montana Suzuki Institute. Prior to Missoula, Driscoll worked in administration with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Montana Summer Symphony. He moved into orchestra management after several years as a professional trumpet player and college teacher, including thirteen years as principal trumpet of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Brass Quintet. He holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a master of music degree from the University of Tennessee. Driscoll served on the League of American Orchestras’ board of directors from 2008 to 2010. He holds the position of trumpet instructor at the University of Montana.
Posted September 4, 2018
