Wichita Symphony announces new director

Donald Reinhold will be Wichita Symphony Orchestra’s newest executive director, the organization announced in a news release this morning.

Reinhold, who has more than 25 years of experience in orchestra and arts management, held the same position most recently with the Fresno Philharmonic Association in Fresno, Calif. He starts his new job on Jan. 3.

“I was very impressed with what I saw when I came to Wichita,” he said. “It’s a city that promotes itself as the city of arts and culture.”

Reinhold fills the position left vacant in September when Mitch Berman, the symphony’s executive director of 31 years, died. Following Berman’s death, which came two months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the Wichita Symphony Society launched a national search for a new executive director.

“I am happy that the search committee has identified such a good find as Don Reinhold and look forward to working with him,” Daniel Hege, the symphony’s music director and conductor, said in the news release.

Reinhold is credited with reaching younger audiences and expanding the donor base during his five years with the Fresno Philharmonic, according to the Wichita symphony.

He also has worked with the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and the University of Maryland in College Park, Md., where he founded the National Orchestral Institute.

The symphony is in the midst of its Classics Concert series. Internationally revered percussionist Colin Currie will perform with the symphony’s “The Beat Goes On” concerts on Saturday and Sunday at Century II Concert Hall.

“I am excited to come to Wichita,” Reinhold said. “It’s a lovely, lovely city with an abundance of museums and other arts.”

Contributing: Alice Mannette

This story was originally published November 17, 2011 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Wichita Symphony announces new director ."