Greenville Symphony welcomes nine new board members, announces 2026-27 officers

The Greenville Symphony Orchestra has added nine new members to its Board of Directors and has named its officers for the 2026-27 season.

All nine directors will begin their terms in August and serve as full voting members, providing governance and strategic guidance in support of the Greenville Symphony’s artistic, educational and community engagement work.

Six community leaders were elected during the organization’s Annual Meeting on June 10: Abraham Cox, Dr. Cheryl Garrison, Annmarie Higgins, Rebecca Lever, Wallace Lightsey and Sydney Shadrix. The three appointed directors are Wendy Cohen and Catherine Crowe, who were chosen by the orchestra to serve as two of the Board’s four musician representatives, and Anne Marie Ashworth, who will represent the Symphony Social Club and lead the Symphony’s emerging leaders cohort.

“The Greenville Symphony is fortunate to be supported by leaders who believe deeply in the role this orchestra plays in the cultural life of Greenville and the Upstate,” said Jessica Satava, Executive Director of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. “This incoming class brings wide-ranging professional expertise, civic experience and a genuine enthusiasm for our mission. Their perspectives will be invaluable as we build on the momentum of the past year and continue expanding the ways people experience and connect with the Symphony.”

The Greenville Symphony’s newly elected board members are:

• Abraham Cox, Chief Consumer and Small Business Banking Officer at United Community, with more than 25 years of banking and executive leadership experience.

• Dr. Cheryl Garrison, Executive Director of the Greenville Chamber Foundation and Vice President of Talent and Leadership for the Greenville Chamber, whose work centers on workforce, education and leadership development.

• Annmarie Higgins, Chief People Officer at PAI Pharma and founder of ACH Catalyst, with senior leadership experience in human resources and organizational development across the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, energy and financial services sectors.

• Rebecca Lever, a retired Duke Energy executive with experience in construction and maintenance operations, community service and nonprofit leadership.

• Wallace K. Lightsey, a member of Wyche and an experienced trial and appellate attorney who returns to Greenville Symphony board service after serving on its Board of Trustees from 1991-95, including as First Vice President from 1993-94 and President from 1994-95

.• Sydney Shadrix, an anchor and reporter with WYFF News 4, a former music educator and classically trained vocalist with degrees in music education and journalism.

The Greenville Symphony’s newly appointed directors are:

• Wendy Cohen, a flutist with the Greenville Symphony and a real estate agent with The Wendy Cohen Team at eXp Realty, who will serve as a musician representative on the Board.

• Catherine Crowe, a violinist with the Greenville Symphony who will serve as a musician representative on the Board.

• Anne Marie Ashworth, a financial advisor at Abacus Planning Group who will serve as the Symphony Social Club representative and lead the Symphony’s emerging leaders cohort.

The Greenville Symphony also named the following officers for the 2026-27 season:

• President: Kasel Knight• Vice President: Margaret Jenkins• Secretary: Allison Foy• Treasurer: Christopher Nicholas

“As we enter the 2026-27 season, our board is focused on supporting artistic excellence, responsible stewardship and meaningful connections with audiences across the Upstate,” said Kasel Knight, incoming President of the Greenville Symphony Board of Directors. “I am honored to serve alongside this talented group of directors and grateful for the strong foundation laid by those who came before us. Together, we look forward to helping the Greenville Symphony continue to grow and serve our community through music.”

About the Greenville Symphony Orchestra

Preparing to enter its 79th year, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra is one of the Southeast’s premier professional orchestras, reaching more than 50,000 people annually through innovative performances, community events and music education. Under the baton of Music Director Lee Mills, now entering his third season, the GSO continues to inspire audiences with a fresh approach to both traditional and new works, reflecting the vibrancy of our region.