In Wednesday’s (8/3) Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas), Andrew Marton profiles Amy Adkins, who took over as president and CEO of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra on August 1. “Adkins grew up surrounded by music. ‘I always remember my father having opera or classical music on, whether at home or in the car,’ she recalls. … In the summer of 1993, Adkins’ husband, Alton, secured a spot in the FWSO, where he is now an 18-year veteran of the horn section. Their two children—Jacob, 14, and Benjamin, 10—already appreciate classical music: ‘They far prefer listening to WRR in the car than to any pop station.’ … When it comes to inspirations, Leonard Bernstein is tops with Adkins. ‘He really was one of the first conductors to be utterly dedicated to music education. I’d like to think that the concerts we do for kids locally—and we do about 100 performances a year for them—are in some ways a continuation of Bernstein’s famous Young People’s Concerts of the ‘50s and ‘60s.’ ” Adkins replaces Ann Koonsman, who recently retired as president after many years in the position.
Posted August 3, 2011
