Waterbury Symphony Orchestra Announces New Executive Director

Following a nation-wide search, the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has selected Robert Cinnante as Executive Director. Cinnante is a community-driven arts leader with more than a decade of combined experience as a performer and arts administrator. He joins the WSO after having served as the Statewide Director of Education & Outreach at Virginia Opera. Previously he was the General Manager of Music for Food, a musician-led initiative for hunger-relief founded by Grammy Award winning violist Kim Kashkashian.

Cinnante also regularly acts as a consultant to artists and arts organizations, has written a number of articles and has delivered numerous lectures on a variety of topics surrounding the arts. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory in Boston.

“I’m absolutely delighted that Robert Cinnante will be joining the WSO family,” said WSO Music Director Leif Bjaland, “He has an excellent background in the arts and is extremely knowledgeable of all genres of music. I believe he will be a tremendous asset to the WSO as well as the entire Waterbury arts community.”

The ACC welcomes Robert Cinnante to the area and looks forward to working with him and with the WSO as they kick off their 80th season, “Sonic Structures: A Visual Journey of Sound and Our Surroundings.” The celebration begins on Sunday, July 9, at 6 p.m. with Picnic & Pops in Woodbury’s Hollow Park. Visit the WSO website for more information or to buy tickets.

ACC Holds Annual Meeting and Social

The Arts & Culture Collaborative, Waterbury Region, held its Annual Meeting on Monday, March 27 at the Thomaston Opera House. The business meeting was followed by a social event where members and guests enjoyed refreshments and networking in the historic theater.

ACC Administrator Diane Ploch provided a look back at the highlights of the ACC’s 10th Anniversary Year, some of which included expanding its quarterly events brochure, hosting a successful 10th Anniversary Celebration in October, and participating in CT Arts Day at the State Capitol. ACC Governing Council Chair Jeff Dunn spoke about plans for the year ahead, such as hosting more frequent social/networking gatherings, coordinating workshops and roundtables, and offering advertising and marketing opportunities that enable members to promote themselves and their organizations and to make valuable connections. ACC Associate Administrator Kristen Mellitt recognized key supporters: CT Office of the Arts, Connecticut Community Foundation, Waterbury Regional Chamber and Waterbury’s Arts & Tourism Commission.

Following First Vice Chair Jeff Lapham’s report of the nominating committee, three new members were elected to the ACC Governing Council: M Douglas Bibbey of the Arts Alliance of Woodbury, Sue Mellitt of MacDermid Performance Solutions, and Richard DiCarlo of the Valley Arts Council.

Governing Council Members and friends network at the annual meeting: (left to right) Joan Pilarczyk of Artsplace in Cheshire and ACC Governing Council Member; M Douglas Bibbey, newly elected ACC Governing Council member and officer of Woodbury Arts Alliance; Sheree Marcucci, of the Palace Theater and ACC Governing Council Member; and David Bibbey, member of the Woodbury Arts Alliance.

Click here to see more photos from the event.
 

Arts Hero Honored

The Arts & Culture Collaborative recently honored its first Arts Hero, Lynnette Letsky Piombo, at the ACC’s annual meeting and social on March 27. The Arts Hero Award recognizes an individual whose work on behalf of the arts at the grass-roots level has made a significant impact. Lynnette has been an active, long-time volunteer and advocate in the Waterbury arts community. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Mattatuck Museum, the Development Committee of the Palace Theater, the Public Art Committee for the City of Waterbury, and the Design Committee for Main Street Waterbury. Lynnette has been instrumental in initiatives ranging from the creation and installation of whimsical bike racks in downtown Waterbury to the coordination of large public art projects like the “Cool Waters” mosaic and the recent Greetings Tour mural. The Arts Hero award was created in conjunction with the CT Office of the Arts. Lynnette was also recognized at CT Arts Day on March 2 at the State Capitol.

ACC Administrator Diane Ploch presents a certificate of recognition to 2017 Arts Hero Lynnette Letsky Piombo.