Gene Sobczak returns to head the Colorado Symphony Orchestra

Gene Sobczak, who was a VP and marketing guru for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra when he left in 2007 to head the Arvada Center, will soon be making beautiful music with the CSO again: The symphony board has appointed him to replace interim director Jim Copenhaver, who returned this fall...

By Patricia Calhoun

December 9, 2011

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Gene Sobczak, who was a VP and marketing guru for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra when he left in 2007 to head the Arvada Center, will soon be making beautiful music with the CSO again: The symphony board has appointed him to replace interim director Jim Copenhaver, who returned this fall to help the orchestra through a financial shortfall that also saw a number of boardmembers bail.

And Sobczak's appointment isn't the only positive sign at the CSO. Six new boardmembers have signed on.

Here's the full release:

COLORADO SYMPHONY BOARD APPOINTS GENE SOBCZAK PRESIDENT AND CEO

Six New Members elected to Board of Trustees

The Colorado Symphony Board of Trustees announced today that it has appointed Gene Sobczak as its new President & CEO. In addition, six new trustees have been elected to the board.

Gene Sobczak currently serves as Executive Director of the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and has held the position since 2007. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President for the Colorado Symphony from 2002-2007. While at the Arvada Center, Sobczak has increased market recognition, centralized business operations, and developed successful programming, sales and marketing strategies. At the Colorado Symphony, he was instrumental in building and growing online ticket sales, plus generated an overall 47% increase in ticket sales. Sobczak serves on the Arts for Colorado Board of Trustees and the Colorado Task Force for Arts Education in Workforce Development, among other board positions.

"I am honored to have been asked by the musicians and board of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra to serve as their next President and CEO," stated Sobczak. "With my roots to the CSO dating back to 2002, I'm excited to be working again with this extraordinary organization and in continuing my service to the region's arts and cultural community in this new capacity."

Sobczak is expected to begin his tenure January 17, while Interim President & CEO Jim Copenhaver will stay on during the transition on a project basis.

"We're excited to have Gene join our team," says board co-chair, Jerome Kern. "He has proven success working for the CSO in the past. He brings extensive experience and knowledge in the orchestra field, and also in the performing arts community of Denver and Colorado."

Six new board members have also recently been elected to the board of trustees.

Sueann Ambron - Dean, Business School, University of Colorado Denver Terry Biddinger, RN, BSN - Director, External affairs, College of Nursing, University of Colorado Denver Walter DeHaven - VP and GM, Channel 4 KCNC Michael G. Gundzik, Ph.D, CLU, Ch.F.C - Founder of Gundzik & Associates, Inc. Chad McKeehan - Director of the Denver, Colorado Tiffany & Co. retail store, Cherry Creek Mall Julie Rubsam - Community Volunteer

For more information about the Colorado Symphony, go to www.coloradosymphony.org.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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