SSO Names Paul Lambert President & CEO

Springfield— The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) today announced the appointment of the Symphony’s Interim Director Paul Lambert, to the position of President & CEO, removing Lambert’s interim status.

Lambert joined the SSO as Interim Director in January of 2022. He came to the SSO after serving for many years as the Vice President of Enshrinement Services & Community Engagement at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Since his appointment to the Interim Director position, Lambert has overseen the return to the stage of the SSO with six classical and two pops concerts in the current 2022-23 season, the first in over two years as a result of the pandemic. He has been instrumental in adding new individuals to the SSO Board, hiring key new staff, reengaging the corporate and philanthropic community and launching a comprehensive communications and marketing program to support the current season.

Lambert succeeded Interim Executive Director John Anz who left the SSO to take a position at another organization.

According to SSO Board of Directors Chair Tony Falcetti, “The Board of the SSO, our various constituencies and stakeholders have been impressed with Paul Lambert in energizing the Symphony in the Interim Director position. We are pleased that Paul has accepted the SSO’s offer to remove the Interim status and serve in the new position of President and CEO. Paul has demonstrated commitment and a real passion for the Symphony. Just as important, Paul has the respect of the community and is uniquely skilled at the kind of engagement the SSO needs now and in the future to be successful.”

Lambert said, “I am truly honored and humbled to serve in this position and appreciate the trust invested in me by the SSO. I am a longtime subscriber to the SSO and know how important the Symphony is to the cultural landscape of Springfield and all of Western Massachusetts. I am passionate about the Symphony and what it represents to all of us who love symphonic music and the arts. A successful Springfield Symphony requires the engagement of the entire community and I welcome this new position in leading the collective efforts to see the SSO succeed.”

Lambert’s professional experience includes nearly 20 years with the Basketball Hall of Fame, initially as Vice President of Guest Experience and Programming, and more recently as Vice President of Enshrinement Services & Community Engagement. His work transformed the Hall of Fame Enshrinement into a nationally-recognized celebration and media event which has served as the bedrock of the Hall’s development and outreach efforts.

Prior to the Hall of Fame, Lambert served as Director of Event Production for the National Basketball Association (NBA), working on the development and execution of live programming, grassroots initiatives and international events, including the “NBA Jam Session” program, numerous All-Star Games, and successfully staged events in Canada, Mexico and numerous initiatives and events throughout Europe, Asia and Australia.

Before working in the basketball industry, Lambert enjoyed a career in the professional theater, including his roles as general manager of the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts for seven years and as executive director of the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. He also served as a production stage manager for many years.

Lambert serves on a number of local boards and community organizations, including the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ); former board chair of New England Public Media; The Loomis Communities; and on the boards of The Cape Cod Center for the Arts, the South Hadley Cultural Council, Longmeadow UNICO and the Springfield Rotary.

He is a graduate of Boston College, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Theater, and resides in South Hadley.

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is the largest Massachusetts symphony outside of Boston. It consists of over 70 musicians from the NE region of the United States and Canada, and holds many performances in a given season – as either the full orchestra or in ensemble formats.