Nittany Valley Symphony welcomes new executive director
The board of the Nittany Valley Symphony is pleased to welcome Gabriel Herrera as its Executive Director. Herrera replaces Roberta Strebel, who is retiring after 17 years in the position.
“We are excited to begin working with Gabriel Herrera,” said board President Lisa Schroeder. People in this area may know him as an outstanding trombonist, but his experience goes well beyond performing. From the moment the search committee saw his resume, we saw the potential for him to partner with Music Director
Timothy Farrand to take our community symphony orchestra to the next level, and reach new audiences.”
Herrera brings with him experience in fundraising, promotions, social media and website management, office management, and board relations, along with experience in concert production.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at NVS and am looking forward to bringing classical music to our Happy Valley community,” Herrera said. “This pivotal year as the symphony continues to re-establish itself in a post-pandemic landscape provides an opportunity to set a new status quo: as a community orchestra made up of both professionals and amateur musicians, we have the opportunity not only to entertain but also to connect, challenge, and uplift. I hope to build upon Nittany Valley Symphony’s rich legacy of success by leveraging data-driven strategies to ensure institutional stability and solidify our status as one of Pennsylvania’s premier community orchestras.”
As Executive Director, Herrera will work closely with Music Director and Conductor Timothy Farrand in the planning and preparation of each concert season.
“I am excited to work closely with Gabriel as he steps into his new role with NVS,” Farrand said. “He possesses a rare combination of artistic and administrative talent, and his onstage experience gives him a unique understanding of the complex needs of an arts organization. I’ve always enjoyed our collaborations, and I’m confident that the qualities that make Gabriel an exceptional performer will translate seamlessly into his work behind the scenes as he supports NVS’s operations moving forward.”
Herrera also will lead the way in cultivating sources of support for the symphony, manage the office and the organization’s budget, and maintain the symphony’s presence on social media and the web.
Herrera earned a B.A. in philosophy and jazz studies from Columbia University, where he graduated with honors in music. He currently is pursuing a master of music in trombone performance at Penn State, where he also is a graduate assistant for the trombone and jazz departments.
Herrera has produced dozens of concerts as the founder and bandleader of several professional music ensembles of varying sizes across New York and Pennsylvania, from a trombone chamber ensemble to a jazz big band.
In addition to an active performing career with groups such as the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, Buzz Jones Big Band, and Happy Valley Jazz Octet, he has had a diverse set of corporate finance, fundraising, and business experience at firms including investment firm Hunter Point Capital, global financial institution Bank of America, and consulting firm Cervitude Intelligent Relations.
“I encourage supporters to join the symphony at our first concert of the season, at 3 p.m. Sept. 8 in Bellefonte Area High School, where Gabriel Herrera will be officially introduced as our new executive director,” said Schroeder.
Media Contact:
Annemarie Mountz, secretary, NVS Board, amountz@gmail.com
