HOUSTON (Dec. 18, 2018) — The Houston Symphony named Gwen Watkins as its new Chief Marketing Officer beginning Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Watkins most recently served as the Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s associate head of marketing and communications for the past three years, having joined the organization in 2011. In the Houston Symphony post, Watkins succeeds Trazanna Moreno, who left to assume an equivalent post at the Houston Zoo.
“Having conducted a national search, we’re thrilled that we found Gwen, who comes to us with truly impressive credentials from right here in the Houston market,” said Executive Director/CEO and holder of the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair John Mangum. “I look forward to seeing what she’ll achieve at the head of the Houston Symphony’s Marketing and Communications team.”
“From growing up attending the Symphony and Opera with my parents, to taking elective courses in college on music history and theory, classical music has long been a strong passion of mine,” said Watkins. “The Houston Symphony is an integral part of the city’s cultural fabric, and I consider it an honor to be responsible for the promotion of the Symphony’s exciting offerings.”
Watkins began her tenure at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in October of 2011 as web content manager, becoming marketing and promotions manager in 2013, and finally associate head of marketing and communications in 2015. Among her significant achievements there, she united all of the organization’s marketing efforts under one department, consolidating email marketing, social media, paid advertising, promotional video production, partnership promotions and website content. Prior to joining the MFAH staff, Watkins was marketing coordinator for the Houston Zoo.
About the Houston Symphony
During the 2018-19 season, the Houston Symphony celebrates its fifth season with Music Director Andrés Orozco- Estrada and continues its second century as one of America’s leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring and recording activities. The Houston Symphony, one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas, held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston June 21, 1913. Today, with an annual operating budget of $33.9 million, the full-time ensemble of 88 professional musicians presents nearly 170 concerts annually, making it the largest performing arts organization in Houston. Additionally, musicians of the orchestra and the Symphony’s four Community-Embedded Musicians offer over 900 community-based performances each year, reaching thousands of people in Greater Houston.
The Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony has recorded under various prestigious labels, including Naxos, Koch International Classics, Telarc, RCA Red Seal, Virgin Classics and, most recently, Dutch recording label PENTATONE. In 2017, the Houston Symphony was awarded an ECHO Klassik award for the live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck under the direction of former Music Director Hans Graf. The orchestra earned its first Grammy nomination and Grammy Award at the 60th annual ceremony for the same recording in the Best Opera Recording category.
For tickets and more information, please visit houstonsymphony.org or call 713-224-7575.
HOUSTON SYMPHONY MEDIA CONTACT:
Eric Skelly: (713) 337-8650, eric.skelly@houstonsymphony.org
Mireya Reyna: (713) 337-8557, mireya.reyna@houstonsymphony.org
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