Nittany Valley Symphony Names New Executive Director

The Nittany Valley Symphony has a new executive director with a background in both nonprofit development and music.

Rebecca Richards has been selected by the community orchestra’s board to succeed Gabriel Herrera, who left to pursue a doctorate in music at the University of Miami after less than a year in the role.

Richards holds a master of public administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management and a bachelor’s degree in human resources, both from Brigham Young University.

“We are excited to begin working with Rebecca. She literally went to school to study how to be an executive director at a nonprofit organization such as ours,” board President Lisa A. Schroeder said in a statement. “She impressed the interview committee with her thorough knowledge of the fundraising process and relationship management, her experience working with nonprofit boards of various sizes, her organizational skills and her savvy when it comes to marketing through social media and the website.”

Richards worked as a development assistant for the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at BYU, where she worked on a $16.5 million fundraising campaign and supported the development team in closing a $250,000 gift.

She also has experience at Grantwell, a program that offers consulting services to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, where she led teams managing fundraising, grantmaking and program evaluation projects and advising $500,000 in philanthropic funds.

Richards is also harpist who runs her own business providing elegant harp music for luxury weddings and events

“I’m honored to join the Nittany Valley Symphony as its next executive director,” Richards said in a statement. “As a harpist with 18 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of performing with orchestras throughout my career and have developed a deep love and respect for classical music.”

Richards role includes cultivating sources of support for the symphony, managing the office and the organization’s budget and maintaining the symphony’s social media and website presence.

She will work closely with Music Director and Conductor Timothy Farrand in the planning and preparation of each concert season.

“Rebecca brings a remarkable blend of energy, insight and organizational skill to her new role,” Farrand said in a statement. “Her background and previous successes reflect a clear sense of care and dedication to her work, and I’m excited to collaborate with Rebecca as we continue to grow and strengthen the Nittany Valley Symphony. Her vision and enthusiasm will be an asset as we enter a new chapter of creative possibility.”