Janna Hymes has received a three-year extension on her contract to serve as music director of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (WSO).
The contract extension was announced last week by the orchestra’s board of trustees.
Hymes, who has been with the orchestra for 12 years, has led the orchestra during a period of artistic and material growth. The expansion of season concerts, addition of staff members and creation of an established endowment all have taken place under her watch, as well as the organization’s recent name change.
With Hymes at the helm, the WSO has expanded its geographical reach. Earlier this year the orchestra made its international debut at the 2016 Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts.
Hymes is recognized locally for partnering with numerous organizations to bring world-class music to the Historic Triangle. The symphony premiered its Bermuda concert locally in collaborations with the Williamsburg Regional Library and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and performed in a three-day concert series last summer offered in partnership with the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance.
The WSO’s upcoming 2016-2017 season marks Hymes’ fourth contract renewal since she began her tenure in 2004, and the new contract ensures she remains in Williamsburg through the 2018-2019 season, the orchestra’s 35th anniversary.
“It has been an honor to work with The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra the past 12 years. We have taken the orchestra from a small chamber group to a full professional ensemble with international touring and recognition,” Hymes said. “My goal over the next three years is to continue our growth by adding concerts and finding innovative ways to collaborate with the artistic community of Williamsburg.”
