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About the ETSO

Mission Statement

The East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra serves, educates and connects the community through exceptional outdoor concerts performed by skilled volunteer musicians.

ETSO Board of Directors

• Richard Hickam, President
• Dr. Jack McClarty, Vice President
• Franklin Farrow, Board Chairman
• Jamie Kitterman, Secretary
• Chip Liles, Treasurer
• Gari Cruze, Marketing Director
• Dolly Fillman
• Janel McKee
• Dana Milholm
• Kathy Oliver
• Dallas Scott III
• Evie Vandevere

Staff

• Mathew Miller, Director of Development
• Brian Benton, Marketing Committee

Conductor

Richard Hickam is the band and orchestra director at Collegedale Academy in Collegedale, Tennessee, where he’s taught since 2000. Hickam, a native of San Diego, graduated from Southern Adventist University (SAU) in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in music education. He completed an M.Mus. in music education at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago in 2005, graduating as president of the class.

During his last two years at SAU, Hickam served as the assistant conductor of the university orchestra under Orlo Gilbert, and also served as music director of classical WSMC-FM 90.5. He recently contributed to “Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra Vol. 3” with his analysis of the Tomaso Albinoni “Adagio.” In 2008, he was presented the "Excellence in Teaching" award by the Alumni Awards Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona. Richard’s principal conducting instructors have included Robert Bolton, Orlo Gilbert, Robert Bernhardt, and Charles Menghini.

 

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