Orchestras Mississauga would like to announce that Eileen Keown is no longer with the organization. Thank you Eileen for 16 wonderful years of dedication and service to the organization.
Eileen’s accomplishments during her time with the MSO are many. In the early days of her leadership, Eileen fulfilled a variety of functions as General Manager. She hired musicians, built programs, booked rehearsal and performance spaces, contracted guest conductors and soloists, maintained a healthy relationship with the Living Arts Centre, and still found time to market and fundraise for the orchestra. Most importantly, Eileen’s prudent fiscal management played a pivotal role in revitalizing the MSO during a critical period. Eileen Keown laid the groundwork for the incredible growth and success the orchestra enjoys today.
As Executive Director, Eileen maintained an open, honest, collaborative working relationship with board members, especially with treasurers and presidents. She built and maintained relationships with key stakeholders in the community including sponsors, media, arts organizations large and small, the Mississauga Arts Council, and with politicians at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. These efforts ensured the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra maintained its reputation as the best hybrid orchestra in Canada.
Eleven years ago, Eileen oversaw the creation and management of the Mississauga Symphony Youth Orchestra – an exciting division of Orchestras Mississauga that offers professional music education and performance opportunities to young classical musicians. Under her guidance, the MSYO experienced explosive growth in membership, tripling in size in three seasons. The MSYO is now recognized as the foremost youth orchestra in the western GTA with a membership that is as diverse as Mississauga itself.
During the difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eileen’s thoughtful management kept the orchestra solvent and staff employed during a time of mass layoffs and bankruptcies in the creative industry.
An excellent musician in her own right, Eileen often performed with the orchestra, playing piano for Beethoven’s triple concerto, harpsichord during performances of Handel’s Messiah, and electronic keyboard during Star Wars and Christmas concerts. Along with Maestro Mastromonaco, Eileen’s connection to the Canadian music community allowed the MSO to attract top tier guest artists that were enjoyed by tens of thousands of patrons.
Eileen’s willingness to be receptive to new large-scale artistic projects allowed the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra to produce four fully staged operas, a feat that no other community orchestra in the country has attempted.
The musicians, staff, and Board of Directors wish Eileen the very best in her future endeavours.
