Quick FactsChattanooga native: Girls Preparatory School Class of 1997.Family: Married to Matt Wilson, son August Matthew “Gus” Wilson, six months old)Favorite music: Bela Fleck to Harry Connick, Jr.Hobby: Enjoys family time and playing music.Would time-travel to: The suffragette movement and talk to women who were fighting for the right to vote, “just to understand how far we’ve come since then.”Would actually like to travel to: Kiel or Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where her mother’s grandparents lived.
She’s been a musician all her life, but it was never Katie Wilson’s dream to take the stage.
So she parlayed her love into a job as the director of marketing and development for the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, coming to work for the CSO full time after her graduation from University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Composition.
Why didn’t you want to perform?
That was not my strength. I think I knew that pretty early on. I like the administrative side of things and realized that pretty much right off the bat, so I started working on an MBA (at UTC) at night, while I was working at the CSO early on. I still play music at our church in town, but that’s different than being a performer.
Do you play classical?
I play mainly classical. I like to play a little bit of jazz on the side too. I did play in a rock and roll band in college, so I’ve played a little bit of everything.
Original songs or did you cover?
Both. Our lead singer was the main writer of the music. I played keyboard and sang a little bit of backup for him. (We did a cover of) Jimi Hendrix, “All Along the Watchtower.” It seems like a long time ago when you say it out loud.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities in your job?
I would say everything from designing print materials for promoting a concert to creating a strategic plan for how to increase ticket sales and reach a broader audience. There are many elements to broadening our reach in the community — everything from our educational programs, which include four youth orchestras, to playing in venues or places where you may not expect us, which we’re trying to do more of. (There’s also) your typical marketing tactics of print media, direct mail and radio. We utilize Facebook and online media.
What’s the biggest challenge of your work?
I think getting people in the door for the first time is the hardest part of the job, because we know that they will enjoy the experience once they get there, but it’s just bridging the gap between someone who may not know much about classical music and helping them realize that it really is a part of every day, whether they know it or not.
How did you get into music? Do you hope your son is musical?
Music has been a part of my life since I was really little, starting with playing piano. My parents and family are classical musicians. It’s been a part of our family life for generations. You don’t realize, I don’t think, when you’re younger how much of an influence that has on you until you end up in your job. My grandfather, Walt Meyer, played with the CSO probably 50 years ago and he still plays jazz around town. That’s certainly influenced me. I just think it’s a very important part of our community on many different levels. I want my son to be whatever he wants to be. I would love for him to have an appreciation for orchestral music. I really just want him to be a happy little guy.