The Firelands Symphony Orchestra announced a new executive director.
After a year-long search, the orchestra has named Ron Brooker to lead the day-to-day, non-artistic operations of the orchestra and school of music, according to a news release.
Brooker will begin in his new role after Labor Day, the release said.
Previously, Brooker worked as a franchise field representative at ThorWorks Industries in Sandusky for 18 years, according to the release
In his previous role, he traveled the country to do field visits analyzing brand representation and helping to share best practices in sales, marketing and strategic planning for individual markets, the release said.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity to do my part to help grow this orchestra,” Booker said in the release. “I’m looking forward to working with not only the arts-aware community that we have in this area, but also our fabulous staff, our board of directors and our Music Director Carl Topilow.”
Brooker will serve as chief operating officer and responsible for administrative, marketing, fundraising, financial and strategic management of all Firelands Symphony Orchestra operations, according to the release.
“Ron is a perfect fit to lead the FSO,” said Board President Nike Mendenhall in the release. “He has been with the organization for years, and he also has the background in fundraising, marketing and strategic development that is crucial to the success of our organization.”
Brooker has been a violinist with the orchestra since its founding season in 1992 and has served as concertmaster since 2002, a role he will continue, according to the release.
Brooker graduated from Bowling Green State University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education where he served on the faculty for the BGSU Summer String Institute, the release said.
He taught strings and conducted orchestras for 11 years for the Findlay and Sandusky school systems, according to the release.
A former Ohio Music Education Association adjudicator, Brooker ensembles regularly earned superior ratings at both large and small group Ohio Music Education Association adjudicated events.
Brooker is a former associate concertmaster of the Lima Symphony, and has played with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Pops, the release said.
He has served as the music director for the Huron United Methodist Church in Huron for over 20 years, and has played for many local high school musicals, the Huron Playhouse and the Sandusky State Theater, according to the release.
