Symphony Manager Honored

Pearl Strickland, executive director of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, has received the 2007 Illinois General Manager of the Year Award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras. Strickland has been with the symphony since 1996.

"Everyone in our community has benefited from Pearl's talents, abilities, and seemingly endless energy set forth on behalf of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony and the Galesburg Symphony Society," said Bruce Polay, the Symphony's artistic director and conductor. "Those of us who perform with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, who have seen Pearl in action, cannot imagine a more deserving recipient for this award."

The award is Strickland's third state-wide honor from the Illinois Council of Orchestras (ICO). She previously won the General Manager of the Year Award in 2000 and the Community Relations of the Year Award in 2003. According to Polay, who serves on the ICO Board of Directors, Strickland is the first person to win the General Manager of the Year Award twice.

Polay, along with David Sherrard, Galesburg Symphony Society president, accompanied Strickland at the ICO's annual Awards Presentation Ceremony, February 16 in Chicago. The Symphony plans to honor Strickland at its April 28 concert in Galesburg.

The award was presented by ICO President Marie Ann Vos and ICO Award Committee Chair Bryan Shilander. According to the ICO, award criteria include "exemplary achievements and organizational and managerial abilities in support of musical organizations."

The ICO awards panel, which includes members from the Illinois Council of Orchestras and outside arts organizations, reviewed nominations from orchestras, youth orchestras, and chamber ensembles from across Illinois.

Founded in 1951, the Knox-Galesburg Symphony performs seven concerts a year in Galesburg. Since 1985, it has received a total of twelve awards from the Illinois Council of Orchestras, including Conductor of the Year, Programming of the Year, Orchestra of the Year, Board President of the Year, Community Relations of the Year, Contributor of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year.

The Illinois Council of Orchestra (ICO) was founded in 1974 to promote and assist its more than 100 member orchestras throughout the State of Illinois.