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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 & Musical Director
• Mathew Miller – Vice President & Director of Public Relations
• Dana Milholm – Treasurer
• Janel McKee – Secretary
• J. Frank Farrow
• Dolly Fillman
• Rusty McKee
• Dana Milholm
• Dallas Scott III
• Evie Vandevere

Honorary Board Members

• Dr. Orlo Gilbert
• Dr. Gordon Bietz

Conductor

Richard Hickam is band and orchestra director at Collegedale Academy and A.W. Spalding Elementary School in Collegedale, Tennessee, where he has taught since 2000. A native of San Diego, California, Hickam graduated from Southern Adventist University 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. He has recently contributed to “Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra Vol. 3” with his analysis of the Tomaso Albinoni “Adagio”. The book will soon be released from G.I.A. publications.

History

In the summer of 2004, while finishing his graduate work at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, Richard Hickam attended numerous outdoor concerts at Chicago’s famed Millennium Park. These free world-class concerts coupled with his involvement in the Orlo Gilbert Reunion Concert at SAU and his participation in several patriotic concerts held at The Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale (VMP), inspired Richard to begin the formal process of mapping out the steps necessary for developing a high caliber, all-volunteer community based orchestra.

With his basic concept in mind, Richard carried his dream to several community-minded individuals. These individuals embraced his ideas and formed an alliance to ensure the ultimate success of his proposed concept. Along with Richard these nine other individuals officially met for the first time on October 26, 2005. They make up the ETSO Founders Committee and its original Board of Directors. During the first few meetings the group defined its initial purpose, outlined its vision, set goals, filed nonprofit organization documents, nominated and subsequently elected its Executive Board.

The original Executive Board includes the following individuals: Richard Hickam - President & Musical Director, Mathew Miller – Vice President & Director of Public Relations, Phil Wilhelm – Treasurer. Janel McKee – Secretary. Phil Wilhelm resigned his post in July, 2006, to pursue business opportunities in Colorado. In August, 2006, Dana Milholm was unanimously voted-in as the ETSO Treasurer. The original Board also includes Franklin Farrow, Dolly Fillman, Rusty McKee, Dallas Scott and Evie Vandevere. The Honorary Board of Directors includes Dr. Gordon Bietz and Dr. Orlo Gilbert.

In subsequent meetings the board members defined and refined its Mission Statement, set long-term and short-term goals, set up fundraising campaigns, launched its permanent website, prepared for its debut 2006 concert season and formally established itself as a nonprofit organization. On September 13, 2006, the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra was formally recognized and officially granted Federal Nonprofit Organization status retroactive from the its original November 30, 2005, file date. ( Federal Nonprofit Number # 20-3973191 )

In preparation for the debut 4th of July concert, members from the Board of Directors held community wide musical auditions, launched numerous marketing and media campaigns, worked with political and business leaders in order to spread general awareness while raising the financial resources necessary to cover the costs associated with this new musical endeavor.

Working with the Mayor of Collegedale and the City Commissioners, the ETSO Board was the driving force behind the change of venue for the annual holiday fireworks celebration. For numerous years prior to the debut concert at the VMP, the 4th of July fireworks were held regularly and displayed on the SAU campus. The 4th of July concert featured classic American standards and the entire Star Wars Suite was successfully synchronized to the City of Collegedale’s annual fireworks program. The Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale served as the perfect patriotic backdrop for the 15,000 – 20,000 who were in attendance.

Shortly after the successful debut concert, the ETSO Board of Directors began the arduous task of preparing for the second and last concert of the 2006 premier concert season. The final ETSO concert was scheduled for September 24, 2006. “An Evening in Russia” theme was chosen for the second performance. This concert was originally scheduled for the VMP venue but due to inclement weather it was moved to the concert hall within Collegedale Academy. Despite the uncooperative weather and the quick change of venues, this rich performance was well attended and capped-off an eminently successful debut concert season.

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