Michelle Merrill to Lead the Winston-Salem Symphony through 2028-2029 Season
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 26, 2025) – The Winston-Salem Symphony announced that it has negotiated a new contract with music director Michelle Merrill. Heading into her third season, Merrill will continue as music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony for an additional three years under the terms of the new contract.
Immediate Past Board Chair Jay Reed said, “Since joining us, Michelle has immersed herself in the Winston-Salem community, demonstrating her commitment to our mission through musical excellence, education, audience engagement, and organizational growth.”
“She continues to bring energy, insight, and collaboration to our work together – on and off the stage,” Reed continued. “This extension reflects a shared desire for continuity and creating new opportunities as we look ahead to future seasons.”
“Michelle Merrill has made a significant artistic impact in our community during her first two seasons as Music Director. Her programming, educational initiatives, and collaborations with entities like the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness have strengthened the Symphony’s connection with the community,” said Board Chair Thomas Bornemann. “We are proud of the Symphony’s achievements under Michelle’s leadership and are pleased that she will continue as Music Director through the 2028–2029 season. We look forward to seeing what she will accomplish next.”
“I am thrilled to be continuing my tenure with the Winston Salem Symphony,” Merrill said. “Our journey together has only just begun, and I cannot wait for what we will be able to accomplish together in the coming years!”
About Michelle Merrill
Michelle Merrill is the Music Director of the Winston-Salem Symphony, and also serves as the Music Director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia. Born in Dallas, she studied conducting with Dr. Paul C. Phillips at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts, and served as the Assistant and then Associate Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony premiered in 1947. Today, under the direction of Music Director Michelle Merrill, the Symphony fulfills its mission to “Bring Music to Life” by inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
The Winston-Salem Symphony is supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; and the North Carolina Arts Council.
Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling Tickets & Guest Services at (336) 464-0145. Donations can be made at symp.ws/donate.