Ann Myers
At the end of June 2007, Ann Myers is leaving her post as Executive Director of the Symphony of the Mountains to return to her native Texas. Myers has been with the Symphony nearly six years. When the orchestra first hired Myers, the ensemble was known as the Kingsport Symphony. Since then, the group changed its name to Symphony of the Mountains and began performing throughout the region, giving concerts in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
During her tenure, the fully paid professional orchestra received a pay raise, but everyone also does more work than before. Myers said, "We added an extra rehearsal - now we're doing two rehearsals, not just one - for every concert." Going regional also put Myers on the road, attending committee and board meetings throughout the area, with new board members hailing from Wise, Abingdon, Kingsport, Bristol and Jonesborough.
According to Myers, the highlight of going regional, at least for her, was the opportunity to meet and work with new people. She is very proud of two accomplishments: (1) after five years of collaboration, the Symphony and the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance presented a concert in April 2007 featuring classical and traditional music; and (2) for the first time in its history, the Symphony will take the Main Stage at Fun Fest (previously they played in the Eastman Employee Center).
In addition to working for the Symphony, Myers served as a member of the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire board of directors and of several civic organizations. She also represented the arts on the Legislative Affairs Committee for the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.
