The Gilmore Announces New Directors of Marketing and Operations

Two new staff members were announced today by Daniel R. Gustin, Director of the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Awards. Curtis Cunningham and Anders Dahlberg will join The Gilmore staff this September as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations and the Director of Operations, respectively.

Mr. Cunningham, the former vice president of Lawrence Productions, Inc., a full-service film, video, and audio Production Company, is a Kalamazoo resident with more than 25 years of professional marketing and public relations experience. Starting his marketing career as a reporter for the Western Herald at WMU, Mr. Cunningham has worked as a promoter for Rose Records and associate regional sales manager at Windham Hill Records. He has served as the president for both Intercom, the Association of Communication Professionals, and the American Marketing Association of Southwest Michigan.

"I have been a long-time fan and supporter of The Gilmore," Mr. Cunningham said when asked about the new opportunity. "It is an honor to join a team that consistently raises the bar for quality international-level music performance, appreciation, and education. The Gilmore's impact and reach continue to expand, and I am delighted to be a part of this journey."

Mr. Dahlberg, another Kalamazoo resident, served as the senior underwriter and marketing manager at WMUK and was the artistic director for the Bullock Performance Institute at the Western Michigan University School of Music. Patrons of both The Gilmore and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra will recognize Mr. Dahlberg as the KSO's assistant principal double bassist-a position he will continue to hold after he joins The Gilmore. An avid music scholar, Mr. Dahlberg holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance. He is also a Board member of the Stulberg International String Competition and was an elected official of the Kalamazoo Federation of Musicians Union Local 228.

Mr. Dahlberg expressed his enthusiasm about joining The Gilmore, saying, "I am thrilled to continue to grow in my professional life in music by joining The Gilmore and the outstanding team of people who bring unforgettable music to our region. As a musician, I have participated from the stage with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra in all of the Festivals since 1994. Now, I am honored to have a new role behind the scenes as Director of Operations, contributing to the success of these world-class musical events."

The Gilmore, located in Kalamazoo, MI, presents a biennial piano festival, bringing together some of the world's most sought-after classical, jazz, and contemporary keyboard artists, as well as a Rising Stars recital series, Piano Masters Series, and music education events and programs for children and adults.

The Gilmore Awards are the legacy of Irving S. Gilmore, a Kalamazoo businessman and philanthropist, whose special devotion to keyboard music and its musicians inspired the creation of the bienniAl Gilmore Keyboard Festival and the Gilmore Artist and Gilmore Young Artist Awards in 1989. The next Gilmore Keyboard Festival will take place April 25 through May 12, 2018. More information can be found at thegilmore.org.

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