John Kilkenny, executive director of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, has been appointed as the executive director of the New York Youth Symphony in New York City.
As executive director, Kilkenny will oversee "all aspects of the organization, including programs in orchestra, chamber music, jazz, composition, musical theatre songwriting, conducting and the newest (New York Youth Symphony) orchestra, 'Crescendo,'" according to a news release from the youth symphony. Additionally, he will oversee community outreach, fundraising, artistic programming and marketing, the release said.
Kilkenny's appointment comes after an extensive search to fill the position left vacant by the departure of the youth symphony's executive director of 12 years, Shauna Quill, the release said.
"We are thrilled to have John at the helm of our organization," Bill Kapell, president of the youth symphony's board of trustees, said in the release. "John's experience and impressive knowledge of music education will surely help to propel (the youth symphony) to the next level. We are excited to see what John can do as he helps to shape our future and make our mark on young musicians even stronger and more impactful."
In his time with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Kilkenny guided the organization's first music director search in 15 years and created the "Classics De-Classified" concert series, bringing the organization's musicians into the community and highlighting works by underrepresented composers, according to the release. During Kilkenny's tenure, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival saw increases in enrollment, earned revenue and annual giving as well as expanded partnerships with numerous diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the release said.
Kilkenny will start his new position in late March.
— Compiled by Sam Still