Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Welcomes First Executive Director

The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has hired Virginia Macdonald as its first executive director, according to a press statement.

Macdonald brings more than 35 years of performance experience to the 65-member orchestra and expects to expand the PSO’s educational and outreach activities in the community, with a particular focus on developing programs for young musicians and forming collaborative relationships with other arts organizations in the region.

Macdonald is a highly regarded professional musician and trained music therapist. Since 2003, she has taught clarinet, saxophone and piano as well as worked with special needs music students and raised money for the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC). Since 2013, Macdonald has also taught music as part of the Excel Program in the Noble School District in North Berwick, ME. She has performed as part of Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, New England Wind Symphony, Exeter Town Band, Quintessence Woodwind Quintet, Whatever 4 Saxophone Quartet, and the Seacoast Wind Ensemble. Macdonald holds a Master of Arts in Music Therapy and Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Connecticut and is a board certified music therapist.

“The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra understands the importance of connecting today’s youth to music in order to ensure that there will be a new generation of classical musicians coming along behind us,” noted Dr. Clinton F. Miller, PSO Board President. “Ginna brings a wealth of knowledge and connections to the musical education community and we are excited to see how she expands the PSO’s youth education initiatives and our community outreach.”

The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will be presenting its annual Family Holiday Pops concerts on Sunday, Dec. 20, and Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015. The Dec. 20 performance will be held at the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham at 3 p.m. The Dec. 22 performance will be held at The Music Hall in Portsmouth at 7:30 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit portsmouthsymphony.org.

Caption: Newly hired Executive Director Virginia “Ginna” Macdonald.