 Mobile Symphony Hires Stephen Hedrick as Executive Director
The Mobile Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce that Stephen
Hedrick has accepted the position of Executive Director. Hedrick, a
former Disney executive, will head up the symphony's administration,
creative and strategic development. "We are very pleased to have found
someone with Mr. Hedrick's background and extensive experience to join
our team," said Celia Mann Baehr, board chair of Mobile Symphony.
After a national search by The Catherine French Group, the Mobile
Symphony search committee decided on Hedrick because of his
wide-ranging experience in the arts. "Though I have worked in all
facets of the arts, symphonic music will always be my passion," he
said. "As Leonard Bernstein said, ‘life without music is unthinkable.'
And I firmly believe that he speaks for all of us. A shared love of
music can bring together and strengthen a community. It is my hope that
I can help this wonderful symphony continue to blossom and ensure that
great music remains a vital part of Mobile for years to come."
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Hedrick began his life in the
performing arts as a child actor. He moved to New York and spent his
early career as a singer, dancer, and actor in musical theatre, summer
stock, and with the national touring company of West Side Story.
Hedrick also developed his talents in the performing arts backstage by
serving as a recording producer for symphonic soundtracks with the
Seattle and London Symphonies and working both in Alabama and New York
as a scenic and lighting designer, company manager, stage manager, and
tour manager.
From 1982 to 2002, Hedrick worked for Walt Disney companies in the
United States, Europe, and Asia. He began his tenure as manager of
talent booking and casting for Walt Disney World in Orlando. Promoted
to producer, Hedrick was responsible for the development of
entertainment facilities and shows for the Disneyland Paris Resort,
including the critically acclaimed Buffalo Bill Wild West
arena facility and show. As senior producer for Walt Disney World
Entertainment, he was the creative team leader in charge of new
entertainment for the Disney Company worldwide. Hedrick then served as
executive producer for creative entertainment at Walt Disney
Imagineering in Glendale, California. He also served as both executive
producer and project director of entertainment for Disney's $3.2
billion theme park in Tokyo, DisneySEA.
Most recently he has served as CEO of ShoBiz Creative Inc. and director
of production for the Glendale Symphony Orchestra in California.
Hedrick and his wife, Diane, have two grown sons. They first met as
actors in New York City in 1976, when they were both cast in a summer
stock production of Li'l Abner.
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Ciba Specialty Chemicals sponsored performances by the Silverwood
Quartet of the Mobile Symphony in Washington County schools, April 30
and May 1.
