Kathleen Kearns, Executive Director, Emerita
Kathy Kearns served as Pro Arte's Executive Director from November 2004 through March 2009. Previously, she served for two seasons as the Executive Director of the Nashua Symphony in New Hampshire.
Prior to joining the Nashua Symphony, Ms. Kearns had extensive management experience with several orchestras, including the Wallingford Symphony and the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut. She has served as a member of the Executive Board of the Naugatuck Valley Youth Symphony and as the Marketing Director for Neighborhood Music School in New Haven.
A freelance writer for many years, Ms. Kearns' opinion editorials, feature articles, music and theater reviews have been published by Connecticut and New York newspapers. Earlier in her career, Kearns taught English and music at the junior high, high school and college levels.
A professional flute and piccolo player, Ms. Kearns is a graduate of Long Island University's C.W. Post College. She also studied at Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, and the University of Hartford, CT.
Ms. Kearns has served as a State Arts Council Panelist for Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts and as a Fine Arts Advisory Council Member for the Connecticut State College System.
In March 2009, Ms. Kearns became the Executive Director of the Circle Program, a non-profit organization in Plymouth, New Hampshire, which serves young girls and young women who need adult mentoring.