Bittersweet

​This topic for this “musings” picked itself. As our organization bids farewell to Caroline Mousset, we welcome Megan Yingst. I simply MUST write a little about each of them.

As our Executive & Artistic Director for seven years, Caroline has been instrumental in transforming WMPA into a more modern and purposeful organization. Perhaps her biggest achievement was in orchestrating the search for a replacement for the irreplaceable Ul James as Music Director. What a successful outcome!  Dr. Anna Binneweg has won us over and vice versa. Their collaboration on artistic planning has elevated the repertoire of the Philharmonic.

Caroline has also worked with Anna to improve and streamline staffing for the WMP to allow musicians easy access to scores, rehearsal dates, and set-ups.  Caroline crafted a website extraordinaire and established a style guide and all-important branding.  She increased regional press exposure for WMPA and identified many media partners and established and maintained a presence on various social media platforms. She has improved our record-keeping and inaugurated new payment methods and patron appreciation activities. Her contributions also include creating a 3-year Strategic Plan to guide the Board forward.

I’m sure we will hear her Georgia accent slip out at upcoming concerts!  Please be sure to congratulate her decision to move on to her life’s next adventure.

A New Chapter

​Gosh, I hadn’t even mentioned the number of invoices and bills which need tracking to help the Treasurer and bookkeeper. Or negotiating vendor, performer or venue contracts and recommending execution.  Or creating program notes, updating donor listings and handouts for concerts. Or preparing emails or responding to phone inquiries. Or meeting with arts leaders in Alexandria and nearby communities to ensure WMPA is recognized and represented. 

Or maintaining the organization’s internal calendar. Or establishing and running the Spring2ACTion campaign, the WMPA’s single-most important fundraising event. Or a host of other activities like sending donation acknowledgement letters for each donation.  All the above was ALSO done by Caroline in her, ahem, part-time position.

WMPA is very lucky to have landed someone who has already “stepped up to the plate” to try to fill Caroline’s proverbial shoes. I am delighted to introduce you to Megan Yingst.
 
Megan hails from Florida and has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She taught music in Polk County, FL and Baltimore County, MD public schools. This summer she finished two years as Executive Director of the Alexandria Choral Society. Among her accomplishments with them was arranging the first ever city-wide Alexandria choral festival. (Eight choirs, 50 volunteers, and sell-out performance: do you think this woman can organize?!)
 
She enjoys being the part-time Assistant Artistic and Outreach Director for the Alexandria Children’s Chorus. She also gives home private music instruction in vocal, guitar, and piano.

At first, she said no…
 
But I thought I would call her back. And ask again.  It worked. We were in a bind with Caroline’s announced February 10 departure, and Megan didn’t want to commit to something where part-time really meant full-time.  So, we honed the job description and renamed it to Chief Operating Officer.  Recognizing this may be a “test drive” she asked that “Interim” be added.  (I’m hopeful we can scrap the interim title soon enough.) ​

So please join me in welcoming Megan to WMPA. She is excited to be working with Anna, Al and Marty and is looking forward to the Lyceum Chamber Series, too. ​

WMPA relies on you for financial support.  Thank you.  Please visit our Make a Gift webpage.