Rockport Music Welcomes Executive Director!

The Board of Trustees of Rockport Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Beadle as Executive Director, effective February 1, 2010. Beadle, whose extensive career spans both music performance and management, succeeds Kristen Harrington, who steps down after leading the organization through exponential growth over the last four years.

Beadle was selected after a two-month national search that included a pool of over 55 candidates.  “The Search Committee and Board were greatly impressed with Tony’s breadth and depth of experience, his entrepreneurial nature, and his collaborative spirit,” says Rockport Music Board Chair Thomas Burger.  “Tony has a deep appreciation for Rockport Music and what its future will hold in the new Shalin Liu Performance Center.  His experience will serve us well in opening the new hall in June 2010 and in developing vibrant uses of the building year-round.”

After serving as the Manager of the Boston Pops for seven years, Mr. Beadle was most recently the Executive Director for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. A professional double-bassist with a degree in Applied Music from Boston University, Tony was an Orchestra Management Fellow with the American Symphony Orchestra League and has held management positions with orchestras across the country for the past 19 years, including the Erie Philharmonic and the Oregon and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras.

States Mr. Beadle, “I am thrilled to be joining Rockport Music.  With its inspired artistic vision, Rockport Music has given us world class performances for more than 25 years. Now, with the opening of the Shalin Liu Performance Center it will also have a home befitting its quality, which will also serve as a premier community asset.” Beadle adds, “I look forward to the opportunity of working with David Deveau, the Board, volunteers, and the staff of Rockport Music to continue its distinguished mission and to build on its extraordinary record of success.”

Mr. Beadle’s enthusiasm is echoed by Artistic Director David Deveau. “I am genuinely excited to welcome Tony Beadle as our new Executive Director. Tony's professional wisdom, breadth of musical and administrative experience, and his collegial nature will be invaluable assets to Rockport Music as we all move into our bright future. Tony will be a leader and a colleague in whom Rockport Music audiences, patrons, and performers can put their trust with great confidence."

You have the opportunity to meet Tony at a celebratory reception after the performance of jazz vocalist Rachael Price on Saturday, March 13, at the Rockport Art Association. Concert time is 8 p.m.
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