The New Era Campaign

Investing in the Future of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra

The New Era Campaign is a special capacity-building campaign designed to support the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra through a pivotal moment in its history—the search for and successful appointment of a new Music Director between 2025 and 2028.
As we embark on this exciting transition, the orchestra is committed to maintaining the highest standards of artistic excellence while thoughtfully identifying the next visionary leader who will guide us into the future. The search for a new Music Director is not only a significant artistic decision—it is also a complex, multi-year process that comes with additional operational and programmatic costs.

Through the New Era Campaign, we seek to raise critical resources that will:

Support a Comprehensive and Inclusive Search Process
This includes travel and accommodations for guest conductor candidates, increased administrative capacity, and community engagement efforts that ensure a broad and thoughtful evaluation of potential artistic leaders.

Sustain Artistic Excellence During the Transition
To maintain momentum and uphold our performance standards, we will invest in guest conductors, expanded rehearsal time, and artistic planning to ensure continuity and innovation during this leadership transition.

Strengthen Organizational Capacity
The campaign will also help us build the internal infrastructure needed to support a successful Music Director search—such as strategic planning, staff development, and audience engagement initiatives—to ensure long-term organizational stability.


The New Era Campaign is not just about a leadership change—it’s about investing in the future of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. It’s a chance for our community to come together and help shape the next chapter of our artistic journey.We invite you to be a part of this defining moment. Your gift to the New Era Campaign is a statement of belief in our mission, our music, and the powerful future that lies ahead.


Featured Musician

Patrick Herring – Principal Bassoon

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A native of North Augusta, South Carolina, Patrick Herring’s primary teachers were Nancy Goeres, Peter Kolkay, and Carol Lowe.  Mr. Herring has also performed in master classes for Phil Pandolfi, Frank Morelli, Sue Heineman, and Judith LeClair.

Along with the FSO, Mr. Herring holds the position of principal bassoonist with Long Bay Symphony in Myrtle Beach, SC and South Carolina Philharmonic in Columbia, SC; the latter awarded in May of 2016.  Patrick has performed with Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Charleston Symphony, and Hilton Head Symphony orchestras.  While pursuing his master’s degree in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Patrick performed with the Akron Symphony Orchestra in Akron, OH and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in Wheeling, WV. 

Mr. Herring received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Performance Certificate from the University of South Carolina, and earned his Master of Music degree in bassoon performance from Carnegie Mellon University. During his time at CMU, Patrick performed with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic in 2009 and 2010 at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and was a finalist in the Silbermann Chamber Music Competition.

As well as performing regularly in orchestras in NC and SC, Patrick is a licensed massage therapist in South Carolina where he has been practicing body work since 2013.


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Mailing Address:
Arts XL
214 Burgess St
Fayetteville, NC 28302

Office Location:
310 Green St., Suite 101
Fayetteville, NC 28301
P: (910) 433-4690
F: (910)433-4699
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
9:00am-5:00pm

info@fayettevillesymphony.org

Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra

Arts XL
214 Burgess St
Fayetteville, NC 28301

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