Working in harmony: Nittany Valley Symphony director’s love of music, skill in nonprofit management strikes right chord
Trending
Rebecca Richards of State College has been named the new executive director of the Nittany Valley Symphony.
A native of Warrensburg, Missouri, she replaces Gabriel Herrera, who left to pursue a doctorate in music at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music.
Richards earned her master of public administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management from Brigham Young University, and she has a bachelor of science degree in human resource management, also from Brigham Young.
A volunteer with many nonprofits in her hometown inspired her to pursue education and then leadership with a nonprofit rather than a performance degree in the harp -- an instrument she's played since the age of seven.
"I had worked with a lot of nonprofits in my youth and I realized that some were run so much better than others. I could tell from a young age that there were things that set a good nonprofit apart from others. Unfortunately, there was no degree in nonprofit management for undergrads, so that's why I studied human resource management because I wanted to learn how people can best thrive in organizations and how to use human capital to create social change. So, I love my degree in HR. It was a fabulous degree and taught me the ins and outs of recruiting, training and development and how to bring out the best in people."
When pursuing her graduate degree in nonprofit management, she chose to specialize in philanthropy and fundraising with the ultimate goal of combining both her music and nonprofit passions. Her new position accomplishes this for her.
"As a harpist with 18 years of experience, I've had the privilege of performing with orchestras throughout my career and have developed a deep love and respect for classical music," Richards said.
"In this new role, I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by the symphony's dedicated board and the exceptional musicians who make up our community. My goal is to expand the symphony's presence, strengthen its resources, and broaden its artistic impact -- so that even more people can experience the power and beauty of live music."
Richards begins her role with the 80-member
Nittany Valley Symphony on June 23.
"We are excited to begin working with Rebecca. She literally went to school to study how to be an executive director at a nonprofit organization such as ours," said board President Lisa A. Schroeder. "She impressed the interview committee with her thorough knowledge of the fundraising process and relationship management, her experience working with nonprofit boards of various sizes, her organizational skills, and her savvy when it comes to marketing through social media and the website."
Richards has experience as a development assistant for the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics, where she assisted in the development of a $16.5 million fundraising campaign, and supported the development team in closing a $250,000 gift.
She also worked at Grantwell, a program that offers consulting services to nonprofit and philanthropic entities. With Grantwell, she led seven teams managing fundraising, grantmaking and program evaluation projects, advising $500,000 in philanthropic funds. She also facilitated large-scale training sessions and events.
As executive director, Richards will work closely with Music Director and Conductor Timothy Farrand in the planning and preparation of each concert season.
"Rebecca brings a remarkable blend of energy, insight, and organizational skill to her new role," Farrand said in a news release. "Her background and previous successes reflect a clear sense of care and dedication to her work, and I'm excited to collaborate with Rebecca as we continue to grow and strengthen the Nittany Valley Symphony. Her vision and enthusiasm will be an asset as we enter a new chapter of creative possibility."
The Nittany Valley Symphony attracted her as a candidate, she said, because its members include professional musicians and amateurs like herself who don't have a degree in performance but wish to keep music in their lives.
One of Richards' first goals is to help the board put together a strategic plan.
"I'll help guide the board through the process and create a vision we can work toward," she said. The vision includes increasing the symphony's visibility and reaching new classical music fans. Another goal is searching and writing grants to sustain the symphony financially.
Her other responsibilities include management of the office, oversight of the budget and maintaining the symphony's social media and internet presence.
Meanwhile, playing the harp remains part of her life as she plays music for luxury weddings and events, with upcoming gigs in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Richards grew up in a musical family and her mother taught each of her three daughters how to play piano. In second grade, Richards said she chose the harp as her second instrument as a way to further differentiate herself from her older sisters who chose the flute.
"I've always felt a little different having red hair. My sisters are blonde and the spitting image of my mom," she explained. It took persistence for her parents to be convinced she was serious in pursuing the harp. When Richards found the area's only harp instructor lived within walking distance of her home, her parents agreed.
As a junior in high school, she considered pursuing a college degree in harp performance. "I knew I was at the skill level for it to be feasible but that to get into a competitive program would require practicing at least four hours a day. I didn't want it to turn into something I didn't love anymore and decided to go a different route."
Richards moved to State College about a year ago to accompany her husband, Isaac, as he pursues a doctorate in Communications, Arts and Sciences.
"I always joke with people that being a BYU alumni, I already bleed blue and white and our mascot is a cougar so I felt really at home here," she said. She's discovered and is a fan of The Corner Room's famous grilled stickie buns and likes that they are sold in area grocery stores. One trend that surprised her were the Big Foot ornamental signs adorning area lawns until friends explained it's a "fascination and like a community interest."
"People here have been really kind and welcoming and I've really enjoyed that," she said.
Staff Writer Patt Keith is at 814-949-7030.