Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra hires new executive director for the first time in 14 years

Domenica Bongiovanni
Indianapolis Star

One of the city's premiere music ensembles is seeing its first leadership change in almost 15 years. The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra has announced that Dana Stone will be its new executive director.

Stone, who started Monday, replaces Elaine F. Eckhart, who just retired from the post.

The new executive director most recently served in the same role for the Anderson Symphony Orchestra since 2010. She has previously worked as an administrative director of Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis and St. Louis Women’s Chorale. Stone is board member of the Anderson Noon Rotary and a former board member of the Noblesville Cultural Arts Commission. 

Dana Stone is the new executive director of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.

Originally from Valparaiso, she majored in vocal performance and Spanish at DePauw University and earned a Master of Music degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Stone teaches voice in Fishers and has performed in a number of musicals.

In August, Eckhart announced that she would retire at the end of the season on June 30, 2020. She had previously been a board member for the organization — assuming the role in 1993 — board president, vice president of financial development and chair of the first endowment campaign. 

Eckhart became executive director in 2006. Under her leadership, she helped grow the orchestra's annual fund, supported more programming from American composers and guided it to become orchestra-in-residence at the Schrott Center for the Arts at Butler University.

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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.