PSO ANNOUNCES NEW HIRES AND PROMOTIONS

PORTLAND, Maine - The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has set the stage for the hiring of a new music director with four new employees and two internal promotions. The new hires and promotions are part of PSO's plan to strengthen the connection between the orchestra and the southern Maine community.

Suzanne Rousso, of Cape Elizabeth, has joined the PSO as Director of Operations and Education. She previously served as the Director of Education for the North Carolina Symphony and concurrently as the Personnel Manager for the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC. Rousso attended the Curtis Institute, The Eastman School and New England Conservatory and holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree in viola performance.

Claire Hammen has joined the staff as Director of Development. Previously she was Director of Corporate Giving for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, and Director of Major Gifts at the Mint Museums in Charlotte, NC. She is completing a Master's degree in the History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University. She is a resident of Portland.

Jen Lawlor has joined the staff of the PSO as Annual Fund Manager. Previously, she was Coordinator for Administration and Special Events at the Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. She has a degree in Commercial Art from Notre Dame College and is a resident of Freeport.

Joseph Boucher joins the staff of the PSO as Stage Manager having toured internationally for the past seven years with performer Avner Eisenberg. He is a member of I.A.T.S.E. Local #114, and is a singer / songwriter who has recorded and performed throughout New England. He is a native of Biddeford currently residing in Portland.

Heather Klenow has joined the staff of the PSO as Operations and Education Coordinator. Previously, Heather taught elementary, middle, and high school band in Cincinnati and Knoxville. Klenow attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and The University of Tennessee and holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in Clarinet Performance.

Alice Kornhauser, of Portland, has been promoted to Director of Marketing and Communications, assuming responsibility for audience development and advocacy. Jessica Ferris, of Cumberland, has been promoted to Publications and Media Manager.

"We believe our new team will put us in a strong position to move forward as an organization and to offer our future Music Director a solid base from which to build excitement in music performance and education programs," notes Executive Director, Ari Solotoff.

Recognized as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has a long and proud tradition of providing excellence in live orchestral music. Serving the city of Portland, the state of Maine, and northern New England, the mission of the PSO is to engage diverse audiences in the enjoyment of live orchestral music. Since its founding in 1924, the PSO has built a strong reputation and set the standard in Maine for performances of the highest artistic quality.