CWU alum named executive director of Yakima Symphony Orchestra

A Central Washington University music alumnus has been named the new executive director of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra (YSO).

Sam McClung (’20), who will begin his position in April, has spent the past four seasons in artistic and administrative positions with Santa Fe Pro Musica, a Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra.

“It is an honor to join the Yakima Symphony Orchestra as executive director,” McClung said in a YSO news release earlier this week. “As an audience member, I have long admired the extraordinary artistic vision of Music Director Lawrence Golan and the skill and passion of the orchestra musicians. I feel that Yakima is a very special place for music making, and the Yakima Symphony Orchestra proudly serves as its artistic heart.”

McClung grew up in Fircrest in Pierce County and his musical specialty is clarinet performance. After graduating from CWU, he went on to earn a master’s of music at the University of New Mexico.

He has performed with the Santa Fe Pro Musica Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra and Spokane Symphony. McClung said he developed an appreciation for YSO during his time at Central.

“I'm deeply impressed with Yakima Symphony Orchestra,” McClung told the Yakima Herald-Republic. “Working as the executive director is a big opportunity, and I look forward to getting to work as soon as possible. I'm a man who's driven and ambitious, I have a lot of work to do, and I can't wait to hit the road running and am excited to move things along with the orchestra." 

McClung will replace former YSO executive director David Rogers, who stepped down in September 2024 after spending 11 years with the organization.