Our Staff

WAYNESBORO SYMPHONY

Our Staff

WAYNESBORO SYMPHONY

The Staff of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra ensures the smooth operations of this largely volunteer symphony orchestra and includes myriad tasks and functions that many audience goers are not privy to. Here’s a peek behind the scenes to see what each of our dedicated staff are charged with and their thoughts on serving the WSO. (And if you see them at a concert, please thank them for their service!)

ORCHESTRA & PERSONNEL MANAGER

The Orchestra & Personnel Manager operates like a “chief of staff” for the WSO, overseeing communication with the public, receiving the emails and phone calls from the website, managing the concert advertising, ensuring the personnel are set for each concert cycle, communicating rehearsal schedules and logistics with the musicians, and serving as an organizational anchor between the Music Director, the Board and the other WSO staff.

MELINDA KENDALL

Melinda Kendall moved to Waynesboro in 2019 to launch Cider House Bed and Breakfast and a farm stand, and has been a regular in the audience of the WSO ever since. She recently retired from a career in marketing and the publishing and events industries, most recently as SVP of Sustainability at Freeman, the leading show decorator company. A flute player in college, Melinda has a BA in music and a MA in musicology, which turned into a lifelong devotion to listening to others perform.

GABRIELA DECH, EMERITUS

“Serving as the Orchestra and Personnel Manager as well as playing in the oboe section has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me; I am humbled to see how my contributions help to bring not only an amazing musical experience to our listeners in the Central VA communities, but also that they facilitate bringing a group of people from all walks of life together to collaborate and grow together both musically and personally. ”

STAGE & LOGISTICS MANAGERS

The Stage & Logistics Managers are responsible for the transformation and setup of our performance venues from active church sanctuaries into concert halls. This requires moving out furniture and worship structures and moving in chairs, music stands, lights and the safe transportation of our percussion equipment. And then transforming it all back after the concerts are finished. They also manage the setup of our rehearsal spaces.

LAURA JEAN BRAND

“Helping to bring great live classical music to my neighbors is immensely rewarding to me.”

CLINT LINKMEYER

“I’m proud to be a part of an organization that is deeply committed to providing quality live music to our local communities.”

MUSIC LIBRARIANS

The Music Librarians manage the acquisition, distribution, copyright compliance and archiving of music scores and parts — whether purchased, rented or borrowed — ensuring that the music is handled and marked properly (pencils only!) and returned in full after each performance.

LISA McDERMOTT

“As orchestra librarian, I enjoy searching for some of the rarer pieces we play and get satisfaction from making sure everyone has the music they need for practice and rehearsals.”

PENELOPE WARD, ASSISTANT

“Being part of this vibrant and dedicated orchestra enables me to share my love of music with many communities. Working with the music library is a great pleasure.”

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