The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Announces Emily Fromm as Marketing Director and Sarah Ruddy as Director of Education and Outreach

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce Emily Fromm as the new Marketing Director. Emily has worked with the A2SO for a year and has accomplished a variety of projects including: a new website launch, increased social media activity, building new partnerships and a successful 2014-2015 season.

Emily has set updated brand standards for the A2SO with new designer Sparklefurry and print company Foresight with the launch of the preview of the 2015-2016 season. These brand standards shine through the new material this season and the new website.

The A2SO Marketing Committee has achieved many of its goals set out before the season to enhance brand awareness and to reach new audiences. With the mission and vision in mind the committee has accomplished a full spectrum marketing plan with social media, digital marketing and a strategic advertising schedule.

Emily will continue to manage marketing and public relations as well as coordinate production of promotions for Development, Educational Outreach, and Special Events. She will also take on budgeting for the Marketing Department as well as to actively recruit members to serve on the Marketing Committee.

"It is an honor to work for an organization so committed to its community, to education, and to quality. I am passionate about the programming, history and mission of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and am inspired to work with a gifted Music Director, Orchestra, board and staff. I look forward to continue to help the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra grow," stated Fromm.

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce Sarah Ruddy as the new Director of Education and Outreach. Sarah has worked for the A2SO for three years. She started with the organization as Orchestra Librarian in 2012. In the Fall of 2013 she added the job of Education Coordinator. She is excited to now be stepping into the role of Director of Education and Outreach.

With Sarah's help, the A2SO has expanded the reach of its education and outreach programs in recent years. Most notably, the Instrument Petting Zoo now visits about forty schools each year in Southeast Michigan and can also be found at dozens of festivals and Farmers Markets during the summer months.

Sarah is excited that the next expansion of A2SO education programming includes offering two separate Youth Concert programs during the 2015-16 season. The A2SO will partner with Carnegie Hall to bring the music education program Link Up to 3rd-5th grade students in Southeast Michigan. Link Up is a program created by Carnegie Hall to unite the classroom with the concert hall. It gives kids the opportunity to explore music through creative classroom curriculum, and culminates with a concert in which students perform with the A2SO from their seats in the audience. In her previous work with the West Michigan Symphony, Sarah saw how the Link Up program successfully engages kids and gets them excited about orchestral music.

Sarah is planning a separate daytime Youth Concert program for the Middle School audience. This concert will feature longer, more complete and more sophisticated works from the orchestral repertoire. It will give teachers the opportunity to delve deeply into the concert's pieces, exploring their history, music theory, and cultural context.

Sarah is also looking forward to implementing the A2SO's second season of Taste of Music, which brings the A2SO to farmers markets in Southeast Michigan. This program includes live music, Instrument Petting Zoos and concert vouchers for marketgoers on food assistance programs. "I love that the A2SO has taken on this project so enthusiastically. The staff, musicians, board and volunteers have been so willing to leave the concert hall to bring music to farmers markets. I think we all truly believe that access to the arts is a vital part of a healthy community," says Sarah.

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