Stamford Symphony Appoints Community Engagement Manager

Information via Stamford Symphony

STAMFORD, CT — Nicolas Gonzalez has recently joined the Stamford Symphony as the Manager of Community Engagement and Education. In this newly created role, Gonzalez will take the lead in planning and implementing the organization’s strategy to encourage patrons of all ages to participate in, and learn about, all the ways in which an orchestra can serve its community.

He will work to ensure that the Stamford Symphony has meaningful and effective engagement within the Stamford and wider Fairfield County communities, according to a news release.

"I am thrilled to join the Stamford Symphony team and work with the musicians to create new programs for the community," Gonzalez said in a news release. "I am eager to get to know the various community leaders, educators, and young people throughout Fairfield County."

Gonzalez comes to the Stamford Symphony from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he served as manager of the Civic Orchestra Fellowship Program. Gonzalez strives to make all art programs and activities accessible, interactive, and used as a service to others. He has worked on many innovative projects that advocate for anti-racism training and diversity initiatives within music organizations.

In addition to his most recent role at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Gonzalez has previously worked at the National Repertory Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Music for All, Indiana Arts Commission, Mathers Museum at Indiana University, the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District at the city of Bloomington, Indiana.

"Though the beginning of my association with The Stamford Symphony in my first season has been interrupted by the health crisis, we are not pausing for a moment in turning the page towards a new chapter in our orchestra's history," Michael Stern, the symphony's music director, said in a news release. "Our goal is simple — both through our performances and our engagement throughout the entire community, we will bring the best of ourselves and the power of great music to everyone. The power of the arts and of music is transformative for all, and we aspire to increasingly greater equality, diversity, and inclusion. So, I am delighted to welcome Nicolas Gonzalez to our Stamford Symphony family as our new Community Engagement. and Education Manager. With his energy and dynamic ideas, I know that Nic will take the lead on delivering inspiring opportunities to new audiences and to music lovers throughout our region."

As the Manager of Community Engagement and Education, Gonzalez will review and amend, existing programs and collaborate on the development of age-appropriate programs and music curriculum that adhere to state and/or federal guidelines as well as work to develop relationships with schools and community partners, and support fundraising of related programming.

The creation of this new role is part of the Stamford Symphony’s six-town strategy in Fairfield County which seeks to increase its footprint beyond Stamford to its neighboring communities – Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk and Westport.

More information can be found at www.stamfordsymphony.org.