Blackfoot native becomes new executive director of Idaho State-Civic Symphony

POCATELLO — The Idaho State-Civic Symphony has announced that Logan Anderson has been chosen to be the new executive director.

According to a news release from the symphony, Jenni Warren, the former executive director, is leaving the symphony and moving to Tacoma, Washington to lead its symphony.

Anderson grew up in Blackfoot and was a trumpet player for the symphony back in the 2009-10 season. In 2010, he won the ISCS's Young Artist Competition. This gave him the opportunity to play Haydn's Trumpet Concerto with the symphony.

Throughout his life, Anderson has played several instruments. He said when he was younger, he played the piano and stringed instruments. He started playing the trumpet when he was 11 years old.

"Once I found that, I realized it was the one I liked the best," he said. "I studied it in college."

Anderson has a degree in music from Brigham Young University and recently completed coursework for his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of Southern California.

Some of the other positions Anderson has worked in are adjunct trumpet faculty at BYU-Idaho and Classical Music Director at Idaho Fine Arts Academy. He has also performed with the Utah Symphony.

He is also a media composer and has worked on original compositions for several screen projects.

Anderson looks forward to getting to know all the people who are involved with the symphony, whether they are with the volunteer board, the musicians and the office staff. He also looks forward to working with conductor Nell Flanders.

"This is an organization that requires a lot of care and thoughtful attention," he said. "It's amazing that there are so many people that love music and give their time to this organization."

Anderson said his favorite part about music is its ability to connect everyone who listens to it. It can connect a person with other people and cultures that they may not be familiar with. This ties into the symphony's theme for the year, "Echoes of Time and Place."

"There are so many ways to connect in music," he said.

The news release said Anderson's wife, Lauren, is a violinist and a music teacher. They both look forward to being back in their home state and for the opportunity to contribute to fine arts in Southeast Idaho.

"Music has always been a big part of my life," he said. "Being able to return to East Idaho and work with the symphony is really exciting. The symphony is an important part of the community. Not just for Pocatello, but for all of Eastern Idaho. It's really a cultural staple."

Anderson officially starts his new position as executive director on July 1. More information about the Idaho State-Civic Symphony can be found on its website at iscsymphony.org .