THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF THREE NEW MEMBERS TO ITS SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
NEW APPOINTMENTS TO FOCUS ON GROWTH, INCLUSION AND SEATTLE SYMPHONY LIVE
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Symphony announces the hiring of three new members to its senior leadership team: Jérémy Jolley, Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement; Paul Johnson, Director of People & Culture; and Josh Springer, the Symphony’s first-ever Director of Digital Programs. Jolley, Johnson and Springer all assumed their roles at the Symphony this Spring 2022.
Jolley has worked with the Seattle Symphony since 2017 and starts his new role with a vast amount of experience working with the organization to drive community initiatives in Seattle. In his new role as Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement, Jolley will lead the Symphony’s many community projects and partnerships, including educational programs such as the Family Concerts series, Side-by-Side concerts, the Young Composers Workshop and more.
As Director of People & Culture, Johnson will develop and implement employee and workplace culture programs with a focus on improving employee well-being, a critical area of focus for the Seattle Symphony during the multi-year pandemic recovery period. Johnson brings extensive experience grounded in a career focused on people, growth, development, and establishing greater inclusion and diversity within organizations.
Springer joins as the Seattle Symphony’s first Director of Digital Programs. His role will help lead both programmatic and technical growth for Seattle Symphony Live – the Symphony’s streaming service – and its offerings. With a long history of experience in digital storytelling strategy and public television production, Springer’s work will amplify the orchestra’s digital presence, helping the nonprofit broaden reach and provide alternative access to live symphonic performance for a global audience.
Jolley, Johnson and Springer join eight other members of the Seattle Symphony senior leadership team: Krishna Thiagarajan, President & CEO; Jennifer Adair, Vice President & General Manager; Raff Wilson, Vice President of Artistic Planning; Maria K. Yang, Vice President of Development; Cheronne Wong, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer; Christy Wood, Vice President of Marketing & Communications; Jeff Vaughan, Director of Facilities & Engineering; and Adam Moomey, Senior Manager of Venue Administration.
“I look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues as one joint Seattle Symphony leadership team, and am excited to see our team expand in this next phase of growth for our organization,” said Symphony President & CEO, Krishna Thiagarajan. “Each of these new team members brings valuable and needed experience to the Symphony. Additionally, their shared passion for the arts will help the Seattle Symphony continue to fulfill its mission to bring world-class music to Benaroya Hall’s stage.”
JÉRÉMY JOLLEY
Jérémy Jolley joined the Seattle Symphony in 2017 and, as the Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement, has already led numerous innovative, community centered initiatives including community composition projects with Derek Bermel, Alexander Gardner, Charles Corey, Janice Giteck, Swil Kanim, Paul Chiyokten Wagner and Paul Kikuchi. Prior to this, he was the Director of Operations and Education for the Seattle Chamber Music Society, where he helped launched their program presenting free broadcasts in public parks as well as the annual live concert at Volunteer Park.
Jolley also serves as co-Artistic Director of the Seattle Modern Orchestra and sits on the board of the Washington Ensemble Theater. He is originally from the French Alps and grew up in a Franco-American household. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Music with a Master’s degree in Composition. In his spare time, Jeremy continues his composition work but also loves to enjoy the great outdoors in the Pacific Northwest.
PAUL JOHNSON
Dr. Paul Johnson brings several years of leadership experience to the Seattle Symphony as its new Director of People & Culture. Much of his career has been focused on people, growth, development, and establishing greater inclusion and diversity within organizations. In his most recent role, Johnson served as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Seattle Waldorf School. Prior to that, he worked in Human Resources at The Boeing Company, Microsoft and Starbucks Coffee Company. Johnson also has experience working for nonprofit organizations and the public sector.
A lifelong learner, Johnson has Master’s Degrees in Cultural Studies, Human Resources and Project Management from the University of Washington, Villanova University and Georgetown University, respectively. Most recently, he completed a Doctorate in Organization Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Jackson Street Music Program and is also an alumni board member at the Lakeside School. Johnson lives in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood with his wife, Ricole, and their 9-year-old son, Roman. They enjoy traveling, live music, theater, sporting events and walks around Seward Park.
JOSH SPRINGER
Josh Springer joins the Seattle Symphony as the Director of Digital Programs after a long career of developing digital platforms, overseeing digital video production and strategizing digital storytelling. Previous to the Seattle Symphony, Springer worked for Holland America Line, where he developed branded content and original programming across a wide variety of platforms. Springer also has a passion for public television and spent 10 years as a producer and director with KCSM Jazz 91 SM in San Mateo, California, and Seattle PBS station KCTS 9. At KCTS 9, Springer led a team of producers and editors, overseeing the production of countless hours of local public television content.
Springer loves the performing arts and is excited to take over the Symphony’s online platform, Seattle Symphony Live, and help to enhance and expand the Symphony's audience engagement through digital storytelling. Springer hails from the Pacific Northwest and graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s in Communications and a Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY LIVE
Seattle Symphony Live brings the Seattle Symphony’s dynamic performances to audiences anywhere in the world. Launched in 2020 to offer musical comfort during the pandemic, the digital streaming service reached a global audience of more than 750,000 viewers with its live concerts, behind the scenes interviews, educational videos and more. With subscriptions starting at $12.99 per month, Seattle Symphony Live makes engaging with the orchestra’s exceptional musical content more possible than ever before.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony Live streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.
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