DSO ADVANCES SENIOR STAFFER TO LEAD FUNDRAISING AND
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS EFFORTS
DETROIT, (September 17, 2014) –The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) has promoted Scott Harrison to Vice President for Advancement & External Relations, a position tailored to his specific talents. His duties began last week.
Harrison joined the DSO in 2010 as the senior director of patron engagement and loyalty programs. His primary responsibilities were redefining the relationship between patron and orchestra with a focus on uniting fundraising and ticketing activities, and reaching new local and global markets through digital media, broadcast, and online activity. A cornerstone project has been the implementation of the DSO’s Live From Orchestra Hall free webcast series, which has received local, national and international acclaim. In 2013, Scott was promoted to Executive Director of Board Engagement and Strategy, where he served as the chief engagement officer in pursuit of fully activated and deployed governance body members.
As Vice President for Advancement and External Relations, Harrison will lead the DSO’s advancement and communications teams tasked with meeting the DSO’s gift and grant requirements for general operating support, endowment and other special needs. He will continue to build one-to-one relationships with the Orchestra’s highest value patrons, funders, and sponsors and support the DSO leadership in strategic fundraising and planning initiatives. His team will include a united fund development team and the digital & traditional communications professionals.
This new position was created following the departure of Reimer Priester, Senior Director of Patron and Institutional Advancement.
About Scott Harrison
Before joining the DSO, Scott Harrison was the associate director of marketing with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO), a role in which he developed a record of innovative and effective marketing, thereby making sweeping annual increases to ISO revenue streams as well as coordinating the activities of multiple departments to build highly efficient patron engagement systems. Scott also oversaw the rapid growth of electronic marketing and media distribution in Indianapolis, re-launching the ISO’s email program as a segmented, customized and interactive communication tool and establishing the ISO’s industry-leading digital music library on InstantEncore.com.
Before joining the Indianapolis Symphony marketing team in 2007, Scott spent several years managing community programs for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He directed REACH, a community partnership performance program with over 150 concerts annually. As director, Scott handled artistic programming, personnel management, contract negotiation, operations, sponsorship, marketing and budgeting. He has also worked for the Boston and Dallas symphony orchestras.
A native of Long Island, Scott is an alumnus of Northwestern University in Chicago (IL), from which he holds both a BA in political science and a BM in bassoon performance. He holds his MM in bassoon performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas (TX). He has performed as a bassoonist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Shreveport (LA) Symphony and the Irving (TX) Symphony, in addition performing on tour in the UK, Europe, and Latin America. As a founding board member of BLUME Haiti, Scott also travels to Haiti regularly to teach bassoon and woodwinds as a volunteer at L’École de Musique Sainte Trinité and to promote the development of music education programs throughout the country.
Scott is a graduate from the League of American Orchestras Executive Leadership Program for Marketing and Development Professionals, a comprehensive two-year program in which participants designed and implemented plans for their individual orchestras while learning to lead orchestras in their evolution towards new models of revenue growth. He also serves as a professional advisor to Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble and as an advisory board member of Detroit Passport to the Arts. Scott and his wife proudly live in midtown Detroit.
Scott Harrison may be reached at [email protected].
About the DSO:
Hailed by The New York Times as “cutting edge,” the internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra, is known for trailblazing performances, visionary maestros, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and an unwavering commitment to Detroit. Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin, called “America’s Music Director” by the Los Angeles Times, became the 12th Music Director of the DSO during the 2008-09. Acclaimed conductor, arranger, and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik serves as Principal Pops Conductor while celebrated trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard holds the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair. The DSO’s performance schedule includes Classical, Pops, Jazz, Young People’s, Neighborhood concerts, and collaborations with chart-topping musicians from Smokey Robinson to Kid Rock. A commitment to broadcast innovation began in 1922 when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today with the free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series. Making its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. Fisher Music Center, one of America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact and serve the community through music. For more information visit dso.org or download the free DSO to Go mobile app.
