Jenny Darlington-Person named executive director of Music in the Mountains

On November 1, 2018 Jenny Darlington-Person will assume the position of Executive Director of Music in the Mountains (MIM). Jenny was born and raised in Nevada County and has been a part of the Music in the Mountains Chorus since 2007. She is a member of the MIM Board of Directors, currently serving as Vice-President of the Board.

“We are so pleased to welcome Jenny to her new role at Music in the Mountains. It seems that the planets have aligned for us – first with Board member Ginny Riffey quickly stepping in and so ably keeping the boat afloat over the past few months, and now with Jenny’s selection. What could be better than for someone who has grown up in the MIM family to take over the helm?” exclaimed Terry Brown, president of the Board.

Jenny is a practicing attorney with experience in administrating programs and managing both employees and volunteers. She has participated fully in all aspects of Music in the Mountains, most recently being part of the production crew for SummerFest, our yearly festival held at the Fairgrounds. Jenny brings to the position both knowledge and a passion for preserving live Classical music in Nevada County.

“Everyone at Music in the Mountains is excited,” said Brown, “and looking forward to her leadership for many years to come.”

Music in the Mountains (MIM) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire and connect people of all ages through extraordinary musical performances, community engagement, and music education. Founded in 1981 by a group of classical music lovers, the organization’s first mission was to produce a summer festival utilizing the local volunteer choir and a core of professional musicians from orchestras throughout the United States.

Today, MIM serves over 10,000 patrons through classical and pops orchestral programming during SummerFest and another 3,000 patrons through the organization’s Classical Series. Beginning with the Young Musicians Competition in 1987, providing scholarship and educational opportunities became an integral part of MIM’s mission.

Currently MIM is the largest provider of music education to Nevada County Public Schools. The program includes Carnegie Hall Link-up, Take 5 for Music, Music Live, Classics for Kids, and Peers Performing for Peers. In 2014, the unique Young Composers Project which is an annual program that engages teens to embrace their creativity through weekly music composition lessons and performances was featured in a 30-minute PBS documentary film called River Music that has gained national acclaim. MIM also touts its Alliance which is a volunteer group consisting of over 400 extraordinary community members.

—MIM