“Kevin Hagen, former executive director of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra whose fundraising prowess helped reignite Opera Southwest, died Saturday of a heart attack,” writes Elaine Tassy in Wednesday’s (7/17) Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico). “He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as a voice major, then got a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati in arts administration, according to his brother, [composer] Daron Hagen.… He held positions ranging from operations director to executive director at the Milwaukee Symphony, the Florida Symphony, the Denver Symphony and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, his brother said in an interview…. In 1997, Hagen came to New Mexico to become executive director of the now-defunct New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, where he stayed until 2007.” Roger Melone, the New Mexico Symphony’s former associate conductor and chorus director, describes Hagen as “ ‘a maverick fundraiser,’ a key factor in his job until he retired.… After retiring from the symphony, Hagen opened his own consulting firm, Kevin Hagen & Associates.… Hagen is survived by his son [Ryan Hagen], his brother, and his ex-wife, Judith Hagen of Rhinebeck, N.Y. Melone will deliver the eulogy at a funeral at 2 p.m. today at French Funerals, 1111 University NE.”
Posted July 17, 2013