KENNESAW, Georgia (June 3, 2021) – Taylor Rambo is a longtime musician and performer. Although he always knew his career would be in the arts, Kennesaw State University Master of Business Administration graduate has discovered that he prefers to work behind the scenes.

Rambo, who obtained his MBA from Michael J. Coles College of Business in the spring of 2021, was recently appointed Executive Director of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. Formed in 1951, BSG programs orchestral, choral and jazz concerts at venues across Marietta and Kennesaw and oversees the Georgia Youth Symphony with music programs at over 127 schools in Georgia.

Currently entering an executive director before assuming the full role in July, Rambo will be responsible for all administrative functions of the organization, including budgeting, hiring, donor relationship building and marketing.

“My role is to allow the artistic product to perform financially and logistically,” said Rambo. “Basically, if you wave a wand or play a note, you’re not in my hands. Everything else is.

Music has been a part of Rambo’s life since his childhood in Marietta. He has performed in his church’s youth choir, played the trumpet in the Marietta High School and University of Miami marching bands, and has performed professionally as a concert pianist with LaTiDo Productions in Washington, DC.

Rambo majored in the music business and entertainment industries at the University of Miami, where he also earned a master’s degree in presentation and live entertainment management. Although an avid artist, Rambo said his passion is doing shows rather than performing.

“I never wanted to be in the spotlight,” Rambo said, adding that he saw his role as that of an accompanist pianist. “As the accompanist, you are not the main performer, but you continue to make music with the main artist. It’s about having the opportunity to be a resource for people passionate about performance and music.

After leaving the University of Miami, Rambo moved to Washington DC and held several administrative positions in the industry, such as development associate for the Washington Ballet and general manager of the American Pops Orchestra. He enrolled in WebMBA program so that it can acquire the logistics management and organizational communication skills that fine arts organizations often need to seek outside of their industry.

“We don’t have to wait years for people to leave their business careers to enter organizations like ours,” he said. “Why not be equipped with these skills ourselves so that we can achieve these goals and meet these needs now? ”

Rambo quickly began to apply his new skills from the MBA program to his career. He used his accounting knowledge at the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to better manage incoming donations, and found himself able to keep up with the company’s CIO through the concepts he he learned in his information system Classes.

Shortly after joining the Arena Stage as primary giveaway and campaign manager, the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through the entertainment world as theaters across the country closed. Rambo was put on leave and returned home to Georgia to complete his MBA. He also started volunteering with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, which is how he discovered the search for an executive director.

“It’s wonderful to see Taylor already leveraging his MBA into an exciting new leadership role,” said Dennis Marrow, Executive Director of MBA Programs at Kennesaw State. “Taylor has developed a valuable professional toolkit that has helped him succeed during a very difficult time for his industry.”

Outgoing GSO Executive Director Susan Stensland is retiring after 15 years in this role. She said Rambo is the perfect person to lead the organization.

“Through his diverse arts administration skills, coupled with his long-standing love for the performing arts, Taylor brings a great passion to advancing the mission, vision and values ​​of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra,” Stensland said. “We are incredibly excited for the future under his talented leadership.”

Armed with a long-standing passion for music and now a business acumen, Rambo set several goals for GSO, including developing their audiences and growing music education programs for young people. . He plans to secure additional funding opportunities, such as a recent grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that GSO received to expand its sense-responsive music and education programs for children with autism.

“I want to find ways to make sure every child in Georgia has access to music education,” Rambo said.

– Patrick harbin

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two Atlanta metro campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the Georgia university system and the second largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit attract students from across the region and from 126 countries around the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral (R2) research institute, which places it among an elite group of just 6% of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information visit kennesaw.edu .