Arizona’s Tucson Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of ANDREW BIRGENSMITH as executive director, effective August 1. Currently general manager of the Kansas City Symphony, a post he has held for the past eight seasons, Birgensmith was selected following a year-long nationwide search that yielded 40 candidates. He had begun his orchestra career in 2001 as associate director of marketing for the Kansas City Symphony, then served as the orchestra’s operations manager before being promoted to general manager in 2003. Prior to joining the orchestra he served as entertainment manager for Station Casino in Kansas City and subsequently as a supervisor with the city’s Union Station/Science City project. Birgensmith received a bachelor’s degree in music education and trombone performance from Shenandoah University and Conservatory of Music (Winchester, Va.) and later studied arts administration at Florida State University.
Posted May 10, 2011