WYSO Executive Director Bridget Fraser to Step Down Early Next Year
Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) announces Bridget Fraser will step down as Executive Director in January 2025. A Search Committee has been formed to begin a national search for her replacement.
“Everyone has made my time with WYSO deeply rewarding,” Bridget expressed. “I’ve loved working alongside our wonderful staff, board, and families that have been my community over the past 15 years. I will really miss sitting in on the rehearsals, attending amazing concerts and building relationships with our families and donors. And I am thrilled beyond measure that our organization finally has a place to call home. With the opening of the WYSO Center for Music and the transformative role it will play in WYSO’s future, this feels like the perfect time for me to step away.”
“During her tenure at WYSO, we have experienced tremendous growth in every respect,” noted Music Director Kyle Knox. “Our incredible new building is the crown jewel in what was already a stellar list of accomplishments during her tenure as ED. WYSO now moves into a new chapter, stronger than ever, due in no small part to her extraordinary leadership. She has been the ideal partner for a music director, and though I wish her well in this next stage of her life, I will miss her dearly.”
“It has been my honor to work with Bridget Fraser,” said WYSO Board President Mary S. Gerbig. “She has led with grace, intelligence, and vision to create one of the premier youth orchestra programs in the country. Her work to create the new WYSO Center for Music will support the vibrant orchestral and musical opportunities for students and families in Wisconsin for generations to come.”
WYSO’s 11th Executive Director or Manager, but the longest-tenured executive leader in WYSO’s history, Bridget has had an extensive impact on the 57-year-old not-for-profit organization. Under her leadership, WYSO grew its membership by 35% and expanded its staff, faculty, board of directors, donor base, and annual budget. Bridget served as the Secretary of the WYSO Foundation during a time when additional fundraising efforts resulted in a 44% increase of WYSO’s endowment. Additionally, she led the search for WYSO’s current Music Director, Maestro Kyle Knox, and added the Opus One Orchestra to WYSO’s already robust lineup of orchestras and ensembles.
Also as Executive Director, Bridget greatly expanded WYSO’s footprint across Wisconsin’s youth arts community and beyond. She served on the League of American Orchestras Youth Orchestra Division Board of Directors. In 2017, Bridget led the acquisition of the Madison Music Makers (now WYSO Music Makers), a program that provides quality instruments, music, and instruction to students from historically underserved backgrounds regardless of prior experience. She revitalized WYSO’s International Touring Program and led four successful concert tours to Europe and South America. And in 2020, Bridget, along with Music Director Kyle Knox and Operations Director Yanzel Rivera, led a team of talented WYSO staff members in successfully navigating the Covid-19 pandemic by implementing safe rehearsal and performance practices, and without losing a single WYSO program.
Bridget culminates her Executive Directorship with the completion of the new WYSO Center for Music, of which she served as the project lead during the design and implementation phase while securing the lead gifts for the associated Capital Campaign. The state-of-the-art rehearsal facility and community space will now provide WYSO with the resources needed to expand the organization’s mission beyond what was previously possible.
WYSO Board Vice President and Search Committee Co-chair Mondira Muldowney and Search Committee Co-chair Sue Collins, along with the other members of the Search Committee, will lead the process of researching and securing a new Executive Director.
If you would like to write a message of ‘congratulations’ to Bridget on her time with WYSO, please do so HERE.