Amarillo Symphony Announces The Appointment Of New Executive Director

The Amarillo Symphony, Inc. announced the appointment of Dr. Andrew Hay as its new Executive Director. Most recently, Andrew served as the Interim Executive Director for the Amarillo Symphony.

"We are very excited to name Andrew Hay as our new executive director," said Adair Buckner, board president of the Amarillo Symphony. "He has proven to be a great interim executive director for us, and we want to continue the momentum he has generated. We believe Andrew presented the best overall skill set and profile for our needs out of the candidates we interviewed. He has great vision, leadership, management, fundraising, marketing, and thinking skills. We have no doubt that Andrew will dive in head first to do all that is necessary to be the best possible Executive Director for the Amarillo Symphony."

A native of Littleton, Colorado, Dr. Hay and his wife, Kendall, have three young children: Amelie (9), Aaron (6), and Isla (3). Hay's formal educational background is a mixture of management, philosophy, the arts, and theology-the latter being the subject of his Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Before joining the Symphony family, Hay was employed as a director of a variety of enterprises, most recently Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo and Denver Seminary. He and his family moved to Amarillo in 2013 and have since embraced the community as home.

"We are pleased that Andrew has local connections and a skill set that will allow the Amarillo Symphony to continue its momentum as Andrew leads as our Executive Director," said Alan Rhodes, head of search committee and board member. "We believe Andrew and Jacomo Bairos, our Music Director, will be a great team as they lead us in the upcoming seasons."

Adair Buckner thanks the members of the Amarillo Symphony Search Committee, led by board member Alan Rhodes, for the excellent outcome of the Executive Director Search.

Founded in 1924, the mission of the Amarillo Symphony is "enriching life in the Texas Panhandle through great orchestral performance and educational and community engagement." The Amarillo Symphony is the only professional orchestra in the Texas Panhandle and offers an array of successful youth educational programs in addition to regularly scheduled concerts.

The 2018 - 2019 season is sponsored in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts. Learn more about the Amarillo Symphony at www.amarillosymphony.org.