The Eureka Symphony, a 22-year-old community orchestra in Humboldt Country, has its first executive director: Board President Pam Cahill announced on Friday the appointment of Jane Hill, already serving in the part-time position since March 1.
Hill retired as executive director of the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007, and has since operated artSMART, a nonprofit consulting business. Her past arts leadership included co-founding Dell'Arte in the early 1970s, working as executive director of Opera Omaha in Nebraska, serving for nine months as interim executive director of the Stockton Symphony, and working with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson on his “For Arts' Sake” initiative.
"I've considered Humboldt County my home since 1971 and am delighted to be back,” Hill said. "It's very satisfying to be of service to a fine local classical music organization and to help build and sustain it as a vital resource for the region.”
Carol Jacobson is music director and conductor of the orchestra. The city has 27,000 residents, but the population of Greater Eureka, served by the orchestra, is 45,000, which makes it the largest West Coast city between San Francisco and Portland.