Derek Beckvold ’09 Appointed Executive Director of the Portland Symphony Orchestra
The Portland Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of Derek Beckvold ’09 as its next Executive Director, following a nationwide search. Beckvold, who has served as Managing Director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, started his new role on October 1 this year.
Beckvold will lead a staff of 18 full-time and two part-time employees, succeeding Carolyn Nishon, who held the position for a decade. Portland Symphony Music Director, Eckart Preu, praised Beckvold’s appointment, noting that his “commitment to education and access to music makes him a perfect partner.”
With the Boston Philharmonic since 2017, Beckvold has held multiple roles, including Development Director and Education and Community Engagement Manager. Beyond his administrative work, he is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, conductor, and educator, with a performance and teaching career spanning North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
A passionate advocate for global music education, Beckvold has taught at institutions including the Community Music Center of Boston, the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (Kabul), the Global Music Institute (New Delhi), and Musicmatters (Colombo, Sri Lanka). He has also worked with the American Voices program through the U.S. State Department in Lebanon, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Iraq, and with Musicians Without Borders in Palestine. As a Fulbright-Nehru Scholar, he conducted educational research in partnership with Music Basti in India.
Beckvold is a 2009 graduate of NEC, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Saxophone Performance. He also holds an MBA in Arts Innovation from the Global Leaders Institute and completed the Essentials of Orchestra Management program through the League of American Orchestras and Juilliard.
Beckvold will lead a webinar this winter sharing his expertise with the alumni community. Please join him for Grant Writing and Fundraising for Artists on January 7 at 11 a.m. ET.
Congratulations Derek on your continued success!
