A Conversation With ... Kelly Kennedy

My job will be to work with existing supporters of the symphony, and also to make relationships with people who don’t yet know of the symphony and aren’t already supporting it.

What was your previous job?

At the (Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau), I was a convention sales manager. I was at the CVB for just more than three years.

I’ve worked in events and fund raising and sales for 13 years. My goal at the CVB was to sell the city to convention meeting planners, to get people to come into the city.

The CVB has a terrific mission and is certainly in a time that’s really influential for the future of convention business for the city of Springfield. There are a lot of exciting things coming up for them … with all of the changes that are possible in downtown Springfield.

Why did you decide to make the switch to the Springfield Symphony from the CVB?

A couple of things – one, I’m an artist. I’m a visual artist and … it certainly got my attention when I heard that they had a position that was open.

Secondly, I know Ron (Spigelman, the music director and conductor) and I’m familiar with him in the arts. We worked on a Missouri Arts Council Advisory Panel before, so I knew him personally and knew his reputation and how his personality really helps to sell the symphony. His enthusiasm was really a selling point.

I really felt a calling to contribute to the city and the community in a different way – actually adding to the events in the city and making more contributions to the people who live in the city of Springfield.

We have a fantastic season lined up, and terrific shows, and I’m excited about several different aspects.

What do you see as some of the selling points of Springfield Symphony?

We’re preparing for our 75th season, which will be our 2009–2010 season. The symphony support arts education on real, practical levels, partnering with the schools and doing a number of outreach programs to make the symphony and music education accessible to a lot of different audiences.

Music is a language that overcomes a number of socioeconomic barriers … and is something that can unify everyone like no other medium can.

The symphony has some goals in mind for how much revenue (we’d) like to use to operate the symphony, especially for that 75th season because it’s such a marker in our history. We’re shooting for close to $1 million.

(Editor’s Note: According to Executive Director Janice Bennett, the symphony’s 2008 budget is $753,916, and there are 72 musicians.)

Tell us more about your personal artistic endeavors.

I have an interest in the arts overall, but the visual arts, and pottery, is my focus. Through Art & Souls, I will partner with churches if they request it, just to bring the arts to an audience who otherwise wouldn’t experience it.

I do paint but not as much as I used to. I have little time for the studio, but when I am in the studio, I’m more likely to pick up a ball of clay than I am a paintbrush.

I am learning classical guitar right now.

Tell us about your family.

Part of my family lives in Iowa, and throughout Missouri and the Midwest. I am not married, but I’m really involved with the singles group at Second Baptist Church.

Interview by Features Editor Maria Hoover. You can e-mail her with suggestions for future installments of this feature at mhoover@sbj.net.