Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra Director Sue Kellogg is retiring. The symphony says she’ll step down effective May 31 after 16 years as the director and 22 years total with the organization. Kellogg said she feels the timing is right as it coincides with the selection of a new music director for the SMSO. She says she believes she left the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra better “for the next music director and executive director to be able to take it to new levels of excellence together.” The SMSO notes throughout the pandemic, it has been able to pivot and provide music to the community by offering pop-up outside concerts that patrons could attend for free. Board President Bill Downey says Kellogg’s “energetic leadership over the years has been a constant, regardless of what the external economic conditions have been.” A search will now begin for her replacement.
