David McClymont, Palm Beach Symphony

Photo by Capehart Photography

Photo by Indie House Films

CEO, Palm Beach Symphony By W.A. Muller

David McClymont is an absolute maestro when it comes to business. David took over as the CEO of the Palm Beach Symphony in 2014. As a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt executive, he utilizes psychologyoriented business development tools to enable this venerated non-profit arts organization to achieve success in the highly competitive South Florida market. David took an organization that had been operating in the red prior, to one that realized a 100% increase in revenue in five years.

Another feather in his cap, In 2019, David secured and appointed Gerard Schwarz as Music Director. Schwarz was the Music Director of the Mozart Orchestra of New York and Conductor Emeritus of the Mostly Mozart Festival. In turn, Discography of over 350 albums, and his honors include seven Emmy® Awards, 14 GRAMMY® nominations and eight ASCAP Awards. Maestro Schwarz is also involved on the University level as the Distinguished Professor of Music, Conducting and Orchestral Studies of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and Music Director of the Frost Symphony Orchestra.

McClymont’s love of music started at a young age. His mother introduced him to the arts, something David is passionate about sharing with future generations.

According to McClymont, “The Palm Beach Symphony continues to expand its education and community outreach programs with children’s concerts, student coaching sessions, and master classes, instrument donations, and free public concerts that have reached more than 50,000 students in the past five years.”

2020 and the Pandemic required McClymont and his music director Schwarz to come up with creative solutions to save the season while providing virtual in-school concerts and coaching to students.

“Jerry had to create this year’s season among ever-changing artists’ schedules and the eventual shift to performing the Masterwork Series for live streaming. In the months following the closure of the concert halls, the Symphony continued to pursue its mission of engaging, educating, and entertaining the greater community of the Palm Beaches and beyond with an impact that is quantifiable. We commissioned musicians to create 48 instructional videos when in-school instruction was no longer possible due to the pandemic. We created engaging and educational online content which resulted in a 127% increase in YouTube viewership and a nearly 30% growth in website engagement; as we reached more than 8,000 students through performances, spearheaded a collaboration with Ballet Palm Beach, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and the Palm Beach Opera.”

McClymont promises more exciting musical experiences in the coming year as he and his music director continue to bring Palm Beach Symphony to the level of one of the nation’s great regional orchestras. The Symphony has worked with the day’s greatest talents and will continue to look for new collaborations. Says McClymont, “This season’s acclaimed guest artists included Pinchas Zukerman and Vladimir Feltzman. We are exploring additional televised concerts. There has also been interest in the Symphony performing a festival in the Northeast.”