Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont
Keeping tempo with David McClymont, CEO of the Palm Beach Symphony.
We caught up with David McClymont to discuss the 50th anniversary of the Palm Beach Symphony (palmbeachsymphony.org) and how the CEO balances life and his love of music, the sea and his community.
Congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the Palm Beach Symphony! What celebrations do you have in the works? We commissioned five world premieres by American composers that add to the orchestral repertoire. Our Dale A. McNulty Children’s Concert Series will once again be available for broadcasts across the nation and, this year, for the first time there is a Spanish-language narration. The upcoming 50th Anniversary Gala celebration will be our most spectacular with a world premiere and a performance by piano virtuoso Emanuel Ax to thank all who support us and make it all possible.
What are some of the key community initiatives you are working on? We continue to expand our instrument donation program providing instruments and accessories to students and school programs that would otherwise go without. Our new Meet Me In The Mezzanine program offers a distinctive and captivating experience for the local Palm Beach County community as well as relocating executives. It features a world-class symphony performance and a reception where attendees can meet several of our musicians.
I heard you compete in Ironman triathlons, and you have a podcast about leadership. How do you balance it all? Balancing my commitments is undoubtedly a challenge, but the key lies in efficient time management, a supportive team and prioritizing what matters most. I find fulfillment in the synergy between these diverse aspects of my life. The discipline and focus gained from Ironman training translate into effective time management while my podcast on leadership allows me to share insights and learn from remarkable individuals. Being deeply involved in the community is a passion and I’m particularly enthusiastic about our upcoming symphony projects, where art and community intersect to create something truly special.
Tell us about the Masterworks Series and what to expect this season. We underscore our standing today as a major orchestra with our acclaimed music director Gerard Schwarz, whose many honors include nine Emmy Awards and 14 Grammy Award nominations, leading the orchestra with some of the greatest music ever written. Four of the six concerts feature world premieres including one in February composed by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in music, and one for our March gala composed by Aaron Jay Kernis, another Pulitzer Prize winner and recipient of two Grammy Awards. Our guest artists include names from the world’s greatest concert halls: Yefim Bronfman, Santiago Rodriguez, Emanuel Ax and Ignat Solzhenitsyn and violinists Akiko Suwanai and Pinchas Zukerman.
Describe your perfect day in Palm Beach County. It starts with a morning surf session or bike ride along one of our pristine beaches, followed by a productive meeting with our talented team. Lunch at a local gem, surrounded by the vibrant cultural scene that defines this community, would be delightful. In the afternoon, I might attend a rehearsal or engage in collaborative discussions with community leaders. As the sun sets, enjoying a Palm Beach Symphony performance at the Kravis Center would be the perfect finale.
Photography by: Capehart
