Savannah Music Festival announces new Executive Director
Posted
By
Connect Savannah Staff
on Fri, Aug 17, 2018 at 11:55 AM
The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) Executive Committee and Board of Directors today announced the hire of David Pratt as Executive Director following the recent resignation of Rob Gibson from the Executive & Artistic Director position.
Pratt is the former Executive Director of the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, in that post from 2010-2015.
"Pratt leaves his current post as Chief Executive of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in September, and will begin full-time at SMF in late October," says an SMF spokesperson.
Pratt says, “I’ve always had a great appreciation for SMF’s work in arts presenting and education, and look forward to being part of the leadership team that ushers in the 30th festival season.”
In the wake of the staff shakeup, longtime Marketing & Managing Director and current Interim Executive & Artistic Director Ryan McMaken has been named Artistic Director to serve the artistic aspect of Gibson’s previous position.
Both he and Pratt will report directly to the Board.
SMF Board Chairman Dave Neises and the Executive Committee began forming a search committee last month, and "subsequently learned of David Pratt’s desire to return to Georgia."
Neises says: “David Pratt is a seasoned arts administrator who is also well-loved in Savannah. His nonprofit business acumen and leadership skills, along with his extensive experience within the musical arts, make him an ideal fit for the Executive Director role at SMF.”
The 30th festival season begins on March 28 and runs through April 13, 2019, with a lineup announcement on November 9, 2018.