St. Louis Symphony Orchestra promotes Erik Finley to Vice President and General Manager
Maureen Byrne promoted to Associate Vice President, Education and Community Partnerships
Kelsey Templeton joins SLSO team as Director of Hospitality and Audience Experience, a newly-created position
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(May 1, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – Today, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard announced the promotions of two senior leaders and the creation of a new position. Erik Finley will assume the role of Vice President and General Manager after serving as Vice President, Artistic and Operations. Maureen Byrne has been named Associate Vice President, Education and Community Partnerships and Kelsey Templeton will fill the newly-created position of Director of Hospitality and Audience Experience.
Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO of the SLSO, said: "Erik and Maureen have made extraordinary contributions to the SLSO and to the St. Louis community. These promotions reflect their passion and dedication. The alignment of their talented teams as part of one department will better support and strengthen our strategic plan – and will allow us to even more effectively serve our community for years to come. The creation of an audience experience position reaffirms the SLSO's commitment to excellent customer service. I'm so pleased to welcome Kelsey to the SLSO family. As we begin an historic new era with Stéphane Denève as Music Director, I am proud to continue to serve the SLSO alongside such a remarkable and creative team."
As Vice President and General Manager, Erik Finley will continue to align artistic and operations with education and community partnerships. Finley began with the SLSO as Artistic Planning Consultant in March 2017 before being named Vice President, Artistic and Operations, in May 2017. Previously, he was Vice President of Artistic Administration at the Fort Worth Symphony and head of operations and artistic planning at The Florida Orchestra.
Maureen Byrne, a nine-year veteran of the SLSO, will continue to lead the orchestra's education and community-focused programs as Associate Vice President, Education and Community Partnerships, ranging from education concerts hosted at Powell Hall to partnerships and performances throughout the region, making music accessible in the community through the Music Without Boundaries, IN UNISON, and SymphonyCares programs. The SLSO impacts thousands of lives each year with more than 80 free community concerts throughout the St. Louis area.
The promotions are effective immediately.
The SLSO welcomes Kelsey Templeton as Director of Hospitality and Audience Experience. Templeton most recently worked for Spire Inc., where she supervised facilities administration and created a hospitality program. She will work with all SLSO departments to ensure exceptional customer service for patrons. She brings a combination of hotel and restaurant experience from institutions including the Waldorf Astoria along with previous event management at the Nine Network.
About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrated as one of today's most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 139th year with the 2018/2019 season and Music Director Designate Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the world's finest, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections – all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.
In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for more than 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with this season marking the 42nd year of their partnership.
The Grammy Award–winning SLSO's impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years.
Today, the SLSO builds on the institution's current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane Denève. Denève, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org.
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