Michael Smith, Executive Director, Charleston Symphony Orchestra
February 11, 2017
The mission of the MidlandsBiz Podcast series is to support leadership in Education, Innovation and the Arts.
A Conversation with Michael Smith, Executive Director, Charleston Symphony Orchestra
In 2010, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra shut down for ten months. The organization was forced to make some tough decisions. They downsized the number of core musicians, put some strict financial discipline in place and decertified from the local union.
Today, fresh on the heels of a study by the Citadel School of Business, the CSO boasts and annual economic impact of close to $7M annually. They are under the direction of a new Music Director, Ken Lam. They are playing in a brand new concert hall, the Gaillard Center. And most importantly, they have instilled a new culture of excellence.
