The San Luis Obispo Symphony’s 50th anniversary season closed on June 30 after an impressive year filled with unprecedented successes and one big announcement.

After a little more than a year with the Symphony, Executive Director Brian Hermanson has resigned his position for personal and family reasons, and to pursue other interests. He and his wife, Alice Ann, plan to return to the East Coast. 

Under Hermanson’s leadership, the Symphony increased the number of Strings in the School classes county-wide, including a new school site in Santa Margarita. A new string instruction program called SuperBows was initiated; and Youth Symphony enrollment rose significantly.

Attendance was high at every concert and event this season, but two concerts in particular are worthy of note:  a first-ever New Year’s Eve concert was held for a standing room only audience and the two Season Finale concerts, featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, were completely sold out. 

“We are especially pleased to report that thirty percent of those in attendance at the Season Finale were new to the Symphony and to the Performing Arts Center,” said Symphony Communications Director Patty Thayer. 

The new season will kick off with the 20th Annual Pops by the Sea concert on Labor Day Weekend, Sunday, September 4th at the Avila Beach Resort. Tantalizingly titled “Summer of Love,” this event and all other concert listings and ticket information will be available July 15 in the 2011-2012 season brochure, and online at www.slosymphony.com.

“It has truly been a landmark year,” Thayer said. “Brian [Hermanson] did a wonderful job for us and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors. Our board will begin the search for a new executive director immediately, and will list the job both locally and nationally.”