November 29, 2021 (Ann Arbor, MI) — The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) is pleased to announce that Sarah Calderini will become the organization’s next Executive Director, effective from December 10th, 2021. Calderini takes over from outgoing Executive Director Tyler Rand, who will step down to take a new role as Director of Marketing & Growth at Stages, a theater company in Houston, Texas.
As a former Director and Board Chair of the University Music Society (UMS) at the University of Michigan, Calderini builds on a lengthy sales career at Procter & Gamble and a subsequent 16-year private business venture to bring a multifaceted perspective from the corporate, entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors. She is a graduate of Union College (New York; BA, English), the National Arts Strategies (NAS)/University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Strategy in Arts and Culture program, and the EXCEL program in Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance. After many years on the East Coast, this Chicago-native-turned-Ann Arborite brings a leadership inspired by the interplay between strong local arts and the larger regional and national landscapes — how they work together to create moments that enrich and transform lives.
Carol Sewell, A2SO Board President, states: “Sarah has demonstrated a long-term dedication and passion to enrich the arts culture in our community. She has the leadership experience and acumen to guide the continued growth of the A2SO as well as the vision to expand the reach of our orchestra’s culture of artistic excellence. I am excited to watch the symphony have an even deeper impact and stronger engagement under her leadership.”
Outgoing Executive Director Tyler Rand exits as the A2SO reaches the halfway point of a highly successful 2021-22 season with live audiences. “It has been a tremendous privilege to lead the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra through some of the most challenging times our industry has ever faced. I am proud of the work this organization has accomplished over the past two years and am confident that we have built a resilient foundation from which the A2SO can continue to grow in quality and impact.”
For Calderini, this next chapter of the A2SO’s mission is a crucial one: “I’m delighted to be working with the many important Symphony partners for continued growth and success — our outstanding musicians, our dedicated board of directors and staff, our passionate audience members and supporters, and the broader Ann Arbor area. Looking ahead to our centenary year in 2028, we know this: we come together through an ever-expanding love of the music we hold dear, but we stay together through shared experiences that are inclusive and accessible, build and strengthen our communities, and create opportunities for sustainable and meaningful impact. I look forward with great excitement to our next vibrant chapter at the A2SO.”