Executive Director Appointment Press Release

January 21, 2026

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT PRESS RELEASE

The Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association Appoints Dr. Susan Miranda as Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JANUARY 21, 2026

COOKEVILLE, TN – Following an extensive national search that drew a strong field of talent and experience locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, The Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Susan Miranda has been appointed Executive Director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. “I could not be more pleased with the work of the search committee,” said committee chair Mendy Richards of the work and focus of this committee of five members of the BSOA Board. “The deep commitment brought forth by this committee provided us with the opportunity to re-visit and re-examine the strengths and needs of the BSOA, and then to find the right person to help us further grow and develop the orchestra with an eye toward the future of the BSO. We firmly believe that Dr. Miranda is that person.”

It was clear from the outset that Dr. Miranda brings to the BSO a strong background in leadership, arts advocacy, and community engagement. With a deep commitment to the cultural vitality of the Upper Cumberland region, she will oversee the orchestra’s strategic direction, operations, and continued growth while strengthening community partnerships and expanding access to symphonic music.

Dr. Miranda brings more than a decade of experience in non-profit management with a background in communications and marketing, most recently serving as President of chamber ensemble Larkspur Reed Trio. In addition to her experience in non-profit leadership and a strong track record of success in grants writing, Dr. Miranda also brings to the BSOA extensive experience in the academic world having spent a one-year appointment as Visiting Assistant Professor of Oboe at Oklahoma State University, and formerly as Adjunct Professor of Oboe at Hamline University and Northwestern College in Iowa. She will continue to teach remotely at her studio at Dordt University.

“I’m thrilled that Dr. Miranda has accepted the position as the BSO’s new Executive Director! Her strong and varied background in the non-profit sector, academia, business, and as an accomplished musician in her own right positions her perfectly to build upon the BSOA’s 62 successful years of bringing live orchestral music to the Upper Cumberlands. I know that she will lead the BSOA with passion for our past and a strong vision for our future!,” said Sidonie Sansom, President of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association’s Board of Directors. Another of the committee members, Nicole McMasters said, “I am beyond excited to welcome Dr. Miranda to our incredible community, and I am deeply grateful to the exceptional applicants whose passion for music and the Bryan Symphony Orchestra made this search truly inspiring.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Miranda to the Bryan Symphony Orchestra,” said Kosta Yepifantsev. “Her experience, vision, and passion for the arts will be key as we build on the orchestra’s legacy and look toward an exciting future.”

A native of Indiana and raised in the Midwest, Miranda holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music in Oboe Performance from the University of Kansas; a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Minnesota; and studied with Daniel Stolper as a high school student at Interlochen Arts Academy. She remains active in national professional networks dedicated to strengthening the performing arts. A Fox Products Performing Artist, Dr. Miranda maintains an active international performing career as an oboist. She has led and participated in multi-institutional commissioning initiatives and high-profile conference performances, including presentations at the International Double Reed Society, North American Saxophone Alliance, International Clarinet Association, and College Music Society conferences. Her performances have reached audiences in the United States, Thailand, and Ireland, and she is slated to perform in Costa Rica in March 2026.

“I am beyond excited to work with and to work for the musicians and Board of Directors at the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. This organization is special in that it has a strong connection with Tennessee Tech, bolstering the educational component of the BSO. Blending my passion for quality musical experiences with my commitment to music education fulfills my personal mission. I am eager to hit the ground running, continue the symphony’s rich legacy, and build on the remarkable work of those who have come before me,” said Miranda.

Apart from music, she is an avid traveler with her daughter, pursuing their shared goal of visiting all 433 U.S. National Park sites—having already explored more than 260!    “I look forward to the many adventures living in the waterfall capital of the world will hold!” said Miranda. “I see many trips to the Smokies in our near future.”

To learn more about Dr. Susan Miranda, visit her website at www.susanmiranda.com.

About the Bryan Symphony Orchestra

Bryan Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to engaging, educating, and enriching the community through the performance of live music. The BSO is a collaborative effort of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra Association and the Tennessee Technological University School of Music. The orchestra was founded in 1963 by former First Lady of Tennessee Tech, Mrs. Joan Pitt-Rew Derryberry and then-department head Dr. James A. Wattenbarger as the Tech Community Symphony Orchestra (TCSO), and ultimately named for teacher and composer Charles Bryan Faulkner. A native son of the Upper Cumberland, Faulkner was the first Tennessee musician to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, and was a former chairman of the Music Department at Tech. The BSO partners and collaborates with over 20 schools, community centers, local businesses, Cumberland County Playhouse, Cookeville Performing Arts Center (CPAC) as well as other performance venues and partners. A regional leader in orchestral music and music education, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra presents a full season of five subscription concerts yearly, opening the season each Labor Day Weekend with a free concert in Dogwood Park, as well as several outreach programs under the heading “BSO Presents,” and annually performs a Children’s Concert for all fourth grade students from across the Upper Cumberland region.  Additionally, the BSO offers other community engagement opportunities throughout the year, reaching thousands of people in the Upper Cumberland region. The next concert of the Bryan Symphony will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 3pm in Bryan Fine Arts’ Wattenbarger Auditorium on the campus of Tennessee Tech. For additional information, visit www.bryansymphonyorchestra.org. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Bryan Symphony Orchestra 

Symphony Office

931-525-2633

contact@bryansymphony.org