Winston-Salem Symphony CEO and President Merritt Vale announces retirement

Winston-Salem Symphony CEO and President Merritt Vale is retiring after decades with the organization.

She first joined the symphony as interim general manager in 1998. Vale says her decision came after much thought, but she's proud at how the organization has expanded its educational outreach and programming during her tenure.

"We really believe firmly that every child deserves access to music and music education and as one of the preeminent professional music arts organizations in this area we really believe it’s a critical part of our mission."

Vale says giving children this exposure goes beyond just creating the next generation of musicians.

"Music has this beautiful way of bringing communities together and I think we can probably all agree that at this time in our world that's something we can't have too much of," she says.

Some of her accomplishments during her tenure include increasing the Symphony's endowment by $5 million and doubling musicians' pay rates. Vale's retirement will be effective on Jan. 1.

The symphony's current Chief Operating Officer Amanda Norman will be her successor.