Administration

Michael Smith

CEO

Michael Smith is driven to advance the art form of orchestral music to be a sustainable and integral part of modern society. In particular, he is passionate about the Charleston Symphony Orchestra becoming the benchmark for how a modern symphony serves its community through powerful performances and impactful educational programs. Michael began his tenure with the CSO as a musician in the orchestra. He won an audition for Second Trumpet in 2006 and was later appointed to Principal Trumpet in 2009. Following the challenges of the Great Recession, Michael believed the CSO needed Executive Leadership that matched the passion and tenacity that existed on the stage. After a national search, Smith was named Executive Director in 2013. Under his leadership, the CSO finished each year leading up to the pandemic with positive operating results and the CSO became one of the only orchestras in the United States to continue to safely perform symphonic music for live audiences without pause. On the heels of the pandemic, Smith secured a $2 million lead gift that ultimately led to the CSO’s first ever endowment campaign. Smith rallied the board, staff, and musicians together to raise more than $15 million dollars in 18 months, securing the organization’s future. Michael was named CEO of the Charleston Symphony in March 2024.

Lonnie Hohenboken

Production Assistant

Lonnie works as the Production Assistant for the CSO. He has been working with the Symphony since 2022 and came on as Production Assistant for the 23-24 season. As the Production Assistant he helps with concert operations and equipment management. In his free time, Lonnie enjoys tending to his garden and 50 house plants, cooking, hanging out with friends, and reading. He is also very active in his church, frequently volunteering and coordinating other volunteers. Lonnie graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in communications and a minor in music. His primary instrument is piano. Lonnie's favorite memories from the CSO are the Holiday Pops concerts.

Truffle

Head Security Officer

As the Charleston Symphony's head Security Officer, Truffle is responsible for ensuring the organization remains protected from unwanted guests who enter the office without snacks. His role includes a range of duties such as barking at postal representatives and the Monday morning zoomies. Born in the countryside outside Nashville, Tennessee, Truffle joined the CSO team in 2023 and now enjoys his bachelor lifestyle in the heart of downtown Charleston.

Thomas Bandiera

Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra Coordinator

Bandiera began working with the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2021, working as the liaison between Allegro and the CSYO. Now, Mr. Bandiera is the CSYO Coordinator. As coordinator, he is responsible for enrollment, tuition, and all parent/student communications. His role includes coordinating rehearsal spaces and materials at Allegro for CSYO use.

Hailey Yasinski

Interim Development Coordinator

Hailey is the Interim Development Coordinator. She began her journey with the CSO through their Fellowship Program as an Executive Fellow in August 2022, but her love for music began as a child. The multi-instrumentalist plans and executes events, speaks directly with donors and the community, and works with the Education staff for In School performances, as well as Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra and Sinfonietta programs.

Dasha Allen

Production Manager

Dasha Allen, the Charleston Symphony’s seasoned Production Manager, is responsible for the magic of concert operations behind the scenes. Passionate about all things backstage, Dasha joined the CSO in 2022 and orchestrates seamless concert productions and manages our world-class guest artists while ensuring strong relationships with our venue partners including the Gaillard Center, Sottile, and more.

Alana Morrall

Director of Marketing & Communications

A former violinist turned administrative professional, Alana Morrall joined the Charleston Symphony team in 2018 as Director of Development, leading the organization’s fundraising efforts. In 2020, Alana took on the Symphony’s marketing endeavors when the pandemic necessitated the merging of two departments and worked diligently to ensure donor and audience relationships continued to thrive during the unprecedented pandemic.

Jenny Baldwin

Executive Assistant & Director of HR

Jenny Baldwin joined the Charleston Symphony in 2022 and serves as the Executive Assistant to the CEO and Director of Human Resources. In this dual role, Jenny is the primary liaison with the Board of Directors, managing all communications and logistics, while overseeing critical personnel functions such as payroll and benefits administration. Jenny is also responsible for maintaining the CSO’s office space to ensure smooth and efficient operations.

Dahlia Lilleslatten

Marketing Coordinator

Dahlia Lilleslatten serves as the Marketing Coordinator for the Charleston Symphony, a role she assumed in January of 2023. In her current capacity, Dahlia spearheads the CSO's creative endeavors, fostering a vibrant and engaging presence for the symphony across various platforms.

Simms Oliphant

Director of Development

Simms Oliphant joined the Charleston Symphony team in the summer of 2021 as Development and Marketing Manager. Currently serving as the Director of Development, 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.

Kyle Lane

General Manager

A member of the team since 2014, Kyle Lane is General Manager of the Charleston Symphony, and is responsible for organizational planning, logistics, and production execution. Kyle collaborates closely with the Artistic Department to produce programs, creates musical arrangements, and multimedia presentations. He also works with the Marketing and Finance departments to provide strategic support and data analysis.

Rachel Gangwer

Principal Librarian

Rachel joined the Charleston Symphony as Music Librarian in the spring of 2013 and continues to frequently perform throughout the Charleston community and can also be seen joining the viola section of the Charleston Symphony. She has performed in the viola sections of the Savannah Philharmonic, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and South Carolina Philharmonic. In addition to her responsibilities as Principal Librarian for the Charleston Symphony and a busy performance schedule, she is also trained in the Suzuki Method and maintains a private studio out of her home in West Ashley for beginner through intermediate violin and viola students. During the summers Rachel enjoys joining her husband, CSO Assistant Concertmaster Micah Gangwer, traveling to Brunswick, Maine, for the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Mitsuko Flynn

Director of Education & Business Operations

Mitsuko Flynn is the Director of Education and Business Operations for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO). She joined the CSO team in 2015 and brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked with the Paterson Music Project, an El Sistema-inspired music program in Paterson, NJ, focused on providing music education to children from underserved communities. A cellist, Mitsuko also served as a dedicated faculty member at the John J. Cali School of Music Preparatory Division at Montclair State University, where she not only taught cello but also oversaw the chamber music program.

Tom Joyce

Personnel Manager

In addition to holding the position of Bass Trombonist with the orchestra since 1995, Tom Joyce has also served the organization as Personnel Manager since 2010. When Joyce is off the stage, he is responsible for working in collaboration with the Principal Core Musicians to identify, recruit, review, engage, house, and pay the 20-60 guest musicians that are needed to ensure each orchestra concert is performed at the highest possible artistic quality.

Cindy Branch

Director of Patron Services

If you have ever wondered who is behind the voice you hear upon calling our office, it’s our beloved Director of Patron Services, Cindy Branch! The longest tenured staff member with the Charleston Symphony, Cindy joined the organization in the Spring of 1987 and has continued to serve the organization through thick and thin. With a wealth of experience and dedication, Cindy helps thousands of CSO patrons with individual ticket sales, season subscriptions, seating change requests, answering a range of questions, and more. If you have a favorite seat in the hall, she knows what it is, along with the name of your first grandchild!

Julia Simpson

Development Research Analyst

Julia Simpson, the CSO’s new Development Research Analyst, started with the orchestra at the beginning of the 2023-2024 season. Julia enjoys working closely with Simms Oliphant, Director of Development, to oversee gift entry, donor stewardship, and financial reporting for the Development Department. More specifically, Julia manages the orchestra’s donor database, conducts prospective donor research, and provides financial reports and metrics to CSO Staff and Board Members.