Symphony hires executive director

Symphony hires executive director

Andy Buelow. Courtesy West Michigan Symphony

After three months of searching, a symphony orchestra in the region has a new executive director.

The Muskegon-based West Michigan Symphony, or WMS, said last week that Andy Buelow will take over the leadership position in January.

Buelow was elected by a committee of WMS board members, staff and musicians to replace Carla Hill, who resigned in June. Since then, Kay Olthoff has filled the role on an interim basis.

Most recently, Buelow served as executive director of Symphony Tacoma in Washington since 2007.

Previously, he has been executive director of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra in Traverse City and director of public relations for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

“I love West Michigan and have missed it for years,” Buelow said. “And as I visited Muskegon, met the board and staff and heard the orchestra in rehearsal, I knew this was where I wanted to be.

“I have long been familiar with maestro Scott Speck’s dynamic artistic leadership, and the opportunity to partner with him is compelling. Muskegon is clearly a community on the go, and WMS is a leader of this growth. I look forward to joining the team.”

Buelow has a bachelor’s degree in music from Lawrence University in Wisconsin.