South Dakota Symphony Orchestra director to leave for job in Omaha

Alexa Giebink
Argus Leader
After eight years at the helm of the SDSO, Executive Director Jennifer Boomgaarden has accepted a position of the President and CEO of the Omaha Symphony.

After eight years at the helm of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Executive Director Jennifer Boomgaarden has accepted the position of the president and CEO of the Omaha Symphony. 

Boomgaarden will conclude her tenure with the SDSO on August 3. 

“Jennifer Boomgaarden’s eight years with the SDSO has been transformational for our organization,” said SDSO Music Director Delta David Gier in a press release Tuesday. 

“The orchestra is the strongest it has ever been in terms of vision, finances and personnel. Personally, I am very happy for this new opportunity for her, but I will greatly miss the perfect collaboration which has been ours during her tenure.”

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Since her appointment as executive director of the SDSO in 2010, Boomgaarden has successfully returned the orchestra to fiscal stability, continued the development of the Lakota Music Project, and added Music as Medicine and Carnegie Hall’s Link Up as well as a residency and mentoring programs to its repertoire of activities.

“I am incredibly proud of the work we have done together,” said Boomgaarden in the press release. “It has been a privilege to partner with Maestro Gier, our dedicated musicians, our visionary board, and our unwavering philanthropic community to create an innovative and impactful South Dakota Symphony Orchestra."

The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra infuses culture into the downtown scene.

"With our sincere commitment to serving our unique community, I truly believe the SDSO is building the model of the 21st century orchestra," added Boomgaarden. "The future has never been brighter!”

Under her leadership, the SDSO was awarded the Bush Prize for Community Innovation for the ground-breaking work in engaging its community and was selected as one of five orchestras in the country to host a New Music USA composer residency from 2017 to 2019.

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“While it is a sad day for SDSO, we are very excited for Jennifer,” said Board of Directors President Scott Lawrence. “Likewise, we are equally excited about the strength of our organization. We have accomplished much over the last eight years, and we look forward to keeping it going. There are only great things to come.”

The SDSO Board of Directors has already laid the ground-work in the search for the next executive director of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. James Moore, long-time SDSO board member and attorney at Woods, Fuller, Schulz & Smith, will chair the search committee and anticipates a nation-wide search for Boomgaarden’s replacement.