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Alumni Profile

Artful Management

by Maggie Weller '01

For Carley Miller '94, music and the arts have always been integral parts of her life. However, she credits the experiences and knowledge she gained both as an Augsburg student and later as a staff member as playing a critical role in her current success in the field of arts administration.

In September, Miller began a new position as the executive director for the Fox Valley Symphony in Wisconsin. According to Miller, she was attracted to the symphony for several reasons, including its youth and education outreach programs and her own love of orchestras. "I love orchestras; my passion is to increase orchestral music awareness, including concert attendance, musician participation, record sales, and public radio interest," said Miller. "Arts make a difference in individuals' lives, especially children's, and I want to facilitate this experience for as many people as possible." According to Miller, she will be able to make that difference by "building connections and alliances between businesses, schools, audience members, and the Fox Valley Symphony."

Prior to beginning her new position, Miller spent two months in New York completing her residency with the Metropolitan Opera. The residency was the final component of her M.A. in arts administration from Saint Mary¼s University of Minnesota. "My internship at the Metropolitan Opera was a wonderful experience; it was a welcoming introduction into arts administration," said Miller. During her residency, Miller worked in the finance department on a project that analyzed the performance of the development department. "The project focused on establishing performance standards by which future fund raising activity could be measured on an annual basis," she said.

Miller's ties to Augsburg run deeper than an undergraduate degree. She also served as Augsburg's fine arts coordinator for nearly three years. "As an employee, I worked hard with colleagues, including faculty and staff, to increase the visibility of the arts at Augsburg." While at Augsburg, Miller co-produced Mai Fest 2000, a celebration of Augsburg¼s Scandinavian heritage. She also helped redesign the fine arts management structure and organized national and international music tours.

Miller graduated from Augsburg in 1994 with a degree in English. Despite her travels and decision to leave, Miller remains loyal to the Augsburg community. "Deciding whether or not to take the Fox Valley Symphony position was an extremely hard decision. I am committed to and have much invested in Augsburg College."

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