Staff
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rhonda Buckley-Bishop
rbbishop@alexsym.org
Rhonda Buckley-Bishop is a seasoned nonprofit management executive. With more than 30 years of experience in leadership roles, both interim and permanent, she is
passionate about strengthening nonprofit organizations. Rhonda has worked with organizations in both growth and crisis situations, and her special talent is fortifying
teams so they can achieve or expand their organizations’ missions.
Rhonda has served as the Interim Executive Director for Choral Arts Society of Washington, Interim Director of Music Administration at the Washington National
Cathedral, Interim Executive Director of the Myositis Association, Interim CEO for Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD), Interim Executive Director for International
Society for Advancement of Cytometry and as Interim CEO for Community Services of Mid-Florida. She has served as the Interim Director of the Michigan State University
Community Music School in Detroit, as well as Interim Vice President for Institutional Advancement for Jubilee Housing.
Rhonda’s permanent roles include Associate Dean for Outreach and Engagement at the Michigan State University College of Music and Executive Director of the University’s
Community Music Schools in East Lansing and Detroit, MI. Prior to her appointment at MSU, Rhonda was Founder and longtime Executive Director of the Sitar Arts Center, a
community arts center that serves at-risk youth and families in Washington DC, where she received numerous awards as a nonprofit leader.
Rhonda earned both a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Music from MSU.She also received a Master of General Administration degree with an emphasis in
nonprofit management from the University of Maryland, University College. Rhonda was a Fellow in the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at Stanford’s Graduate School
of Management. She is a member of the Leadership Greater Washington, Class of 2006. Rhonda also contributes as a volunteer to several Washington DC region
nonprofit organizations.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Ryan Jordan
jordan@alexsym.org
Ryan began his career with the ASO in July 2011 when he was hired as box office and patron services manager and is currently serving in a variety of new roles in production and sales as Director of Operations. A trained musician, Ryan completed his M.M. in music composition from Bowling Green State University in 2008 and has worked as an arranger, transcriber, and copyist for a variety of musical acts encompassing both classical music and jazz. He currently performs as a freelance musician on trumpet around the Washington D.C. region.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Emily Sutton
esutton@alexsym.org
Emily Sutton was born and raised in Manhattan and holds a degree in oboe performance from Oberlin College. She later relocated to Washington State to earn her certification in band instrument repair. Alongside her classical music background, Emily has extensive office support experience, having worked primarily as an executive legal assistant and as an office manager for a startup in Southern California. Emily is married to a retired Marine and has two young children.
DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Sydney Watson
swatson@alexsym.org
Sydney joined the ASO in 2022 as Director of Development after serving at the Grand Rapids Symphony in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A dedicated fundraising professional, she earned her degree in Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University in 2018 and has worked in a variety of nonprofit organizations. Today, Sydney continues to support the ASO as a fundraising consultant, partnering with the organization to advance its development and philanthropic efforts.
PERSONNEL MANAGER
Ms. Kelly, who also plays cello with the ASO, is in charge of hiring the musicians for the ASO concerts. She works closely with Music Director James Ross and the Musicians’ Union to find the best musicians in the area for the ASO concerts. She received her musical training at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Fontainebleau, France, encouraged by her musician/conductor father, James Swift. She has been part of the Washington, D.C. area musical scene since 1975 as a player, contractor, librarian, and teacher. Current responsibilities involving the first three roles find her working at Wolf Trap, Kennedy Center Opera House, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Post-Classical Ensemble, and Opera Camerata in addition to the ASO. She teaches cello at the Levine School of Music, Episcopal High School, and at her McLean home.
STAGE MANAGER
Craig has served and played with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra since the fall of 1996. He considers himself a retired music educator having taught Kindergarten through college. For over three decades he has served as a stage manager for choruses and orchestras including such ensembles as Eclipse Chamber Orchestra (NSO musicians) and Baltimore Chamber Orchestra (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians). In addition to occasional freelance percussion playing, he owns a chorus and orchestra equipment company, and he also serves as the Music Director for Kensington Baptist Church. Craig is a beekeeper and can often be found with a camera in hand.
