Redefining Classical Music
Mercury rising: Entrepreurial spirit and ambitious plans draw new orchestra executive director
It took only a handful of days for a Yankee to fall for Houston and one of its arts organizations — even in the middle of summer.
Brian A. Ritter has been appointed the new executive director of Mercury - The Orchestra Redefined, a position he will officially assume beginning in September. He replaces departing executive director Deborah Lugo, who after 10 years with Mercury stepped down to pursue graduate level studies in public policy at Princeton University in New Jersey.
A national search committee had first made contact with Ritter, a resident of Albany, N.Y., in June. During a short visit to the Bayou City for follow-up interviews in July, Ritter found beauty in the big Texas skies, streetscapes lined with mature oak trees and, as far as the artistic landscape is concerned, an adventurous environment that contributes to the city's thriving art and culture activities.
The 37-year-old had previously served as executive director of the Albany Symphony and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra (where current Houston Symphony CEO Mark Hanson was Ritter's predecessor) and as development director for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in Allentown, Pa., Ritter's hometown.
"After driving around the city and talking to people one-on-one, I had one thought," Ritter says about his first impression of Houston. "This could be a good thing."
Although he concedes that he had little connection to the South, Ritter connected readily to Mercury's entrepreneurial spirit.
"Mercury really stands out as an arts group that grew quickly in a short amount of time," Ritter says in an interview. "How and where it performs, how it connects to the community . . . personally, I am very much attracted to Mercury's approach. And for an organization that's very young to be fiscally solid? That's a rarity."
Having a solid financial history isn't something to be taken for granted in nonprofit entities, Ritter explains. While in the past he hasn't shied away from marshaling "search and rescue" missions that dig balance sheets out of black holes, Ritter wanted his next career move to be about implementing strategic plans that propelled forward at least from neutral ground.
Mercury's vision is to grow its budget by 50 percent in three years and attract that many more listeners, a goal that's part of a larger scheme that included a rebranding campaign that saw baroque dropped from the troupe's original name. Mercury Baroque morphed into Mercury - The Orchestra Redefined to expand the scope of its raison d'être.
"There's never a magic bullet when it comes to building audiences and nurturing a donor base," he adds. "Although every community is different, things like loyalty, retention and excellent customer service always go a long way in helping arts groups to become relevant in the eyes of residents."
Ritter, who was honored with Rockford Chamber of Commerce's Forty Leaders Under 40 award, is a graduate of Gettysburg College, where he earned a degree in history and political science while participating in music ensembles as a conductor and as a saxophonist. In Houston, he joins artistic director and founder Antoine Plante in ushering Mercury into its second decade, which continues with a concert at University of Houston Clear Lake and at Miller Outdoor Theatre, set for Aug. 29 and 31 respectively.
"After driving around the city and talking to people one-on-one, I had one thought," Ritter says about his first impression of Houston. "This could be a good thing."
