Simms Oliphant joined the Charleston Symphony team in the summer of 2021 as Development and Marketing Manager. Currently serving as the Director of Institutional Advancement, Simms immensely enjoys building and strengthening relationships with the CSO’s tremendous base of supporters and community advocates, and she strategically leads the advancement of contributed revenue to bolster the CSO’s vibrant artistic, educational, and community impact. As a former vocalist with a Music Composition degree from the University of South Carolina School of Music, music has always played an integral role in Simms’ life as a lifelong arts enthusiast. A deep passion for understanding how the arts can profoundly enrich lives led Simms to relocate to London, England to earn a master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Management from King’s College London where she graduated with distinction while working with renowned partner organizations including the Royal Opera House, Tate Modern, Cadogan Hall, and the Handel & Hendrix Museum.

As a native of Columbia, South Carolina with many visits to the Lowcountry, Charleston has remained near and dear to Simms’ heart, and she is thrilled to have the privilege of living in the cultural capital of the south with the exceptional opportunity to amplify philanthropy for one of Charleston’s most treasured and valuable community assets. Simms enjoys living in the Wagener Terrace neighborhood on Charleston’s upper peninsula where she loves to spend time exploring Hampton Park, out and about on the water with friends, and taking advantage of the many dynamic arts, cultural, and culinary offerings of this extraordinary city.