SANTA CRUZ SYMPHONY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DOROTHY WISE STEPS ASIDE
Symphony Board Opens Search for new Executive Director
The Santa Cruz Symphony Association Board of Directors announced this week that Dorothy Wise is stepping down as Executive Director and that a search committee has been formed to identify her replacement. Wise is returning to her roots in software development with her daughter, Jess Wise, in technology startup company Mesh Communities. She will remain with the Symphony through July and will be available for consultation after that, according to Linda Burroughs, Board President.
“Dorothy Wise has been a wonderful Executive Director during a time of tremendous growth for the orchestra,” said Burroughs. “She has been instrumental in leading the symphony to artistic and financial success over the past five years and is a valued member of our symphony family. We are sorry to see her step aside as Executive Director and wish her the very best with her new endeavor.”
The Santa Cruz Symphony has announced an innovative season for the upcoming 2020-21 season which is slated to include the return of superstar pianist Yuja Wang in her third all piano concerto program with the SCS, an all Beethoven program, Orff’s Carmina Burana and more. Because of the coronavirus, Maestro Stewart is shifting his focus to developing a digital series until live performances are once more permitted.
“We remain hopeful that we will be able to resume our regularly scheduled live concerts at some point in our coming season, depending on how the next several months unfold,” said Music Director Daniel Stewart. “In the meantime, we are proud to present a new digital series which will help connect our audience directly with our musicians and special guest artists in a variety of formats, as it is essential that we continue to create new ways to share the joy of music with our community.”
Wise first became involved with the Santa Cruz Symphony when she joined the Board in 1991. She has been Board President twice, 1995-96 and 2014-15, before becoming Executive Director, is a long-time Season Sponsor of the Symphony, and was on the search committee that found Daniel Stewart.
“I want to personally thank Dorothy for her devotion to the SCS,” said Stewart, “and her countless contributions in helping achieve our goals over these past five years, including our first semi-staged opera, establishing a thriving chamber music series, free open rehearsals, expansion of our educational programs, and much more.”
“It has been a real pleasure working with Danny and the musicians over the last five years. The Symphony orchestra is truly a jewel in Santa Cruz County,” said Wise. “It was a difficult choice for me to leave as Executive Director, but I will continue to support the Symphony and look forward to seeing all my Symphony family and friends at future concerts.”
Founded in 1958, the Santa Cruz Symphony’s mission is to inspire, educate and engage through artistic excellence, distinctive musical performances, and varied activities that celebrate and enhance cultural vibrancy. Under the artistic direction of Maestro Daniel Stewart, the Symphony has seen substantial growth in critical and popular acclaim, partners regularly with some of the world’s greatest artists, and has earned a reputation as one of the premiere performing arts organizations in the Greater San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas.