By Ashley Gurbal

POSTED: January 4, 2008

Altoona Symphony Orchestra begins the new year with a Blair County native at the helm — Brooke Welsh, formerly of Tyrone, is the symphony’s new executive director.

"We were really looking for someone from Blair County," said Lue Karman-ski, chairwoman of the executive director search committee. "They have a vested interest in the position."

The search drew candidates from as far away as Argentina and Utah, Kar-manski said. A field of 10 was narrowed to three finalists, all of whom were from Blair County.

"The ASO is very fortunate to have her," said Anne Grier, ASO president.

Welsh said she does have a "vested interest" in the orchestra as a native.

"I’m familiar with the community and the orchestra," she said.

What set Welsh apart, Karmanski said, was her work with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Florida Orchestra in Tampa, Fla. In Philadelphia, she worked in education and outreach; in Tampa, she was in fundraising as the annual funds manager.

Welsh, 29, graduated from Tyrone Area High School in 1996. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, in music and psychology and a master’s degree in piano from Temple University in Philadelphia. She began playing the piano at age 8, taking lessons from an aunt. In junior high, she started taking lessons at Penn State University. She resides in State College.

On Wednesday, Welsh’s first day with the ASO, she was looking at long-term goals for the orchestra.

"We’re evaluating what we have," Welsh said. "We’re hoping to maintain and grow our funds."

Welsh replaces Larry Kopp, who resigned Oct. 20 after four years with the ASO to take a position with Atlantic Classical Orchestra in Fort Pierce, Fla. Grier served as interim executive director, and though her term as president ends later this month when the new board takes over, she plans to stay involved with the orchestra.

"I’ll be more of a peripheral player and happy to help wherever I’m needed," Grier said. "But it’s time for a change for everyone involved."

Mirror Staff Writer Ashley Gurbal is at 946-7435.