Nancy Nehring: Personnel Manager for Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra

Nancy Nehring, personnel manager for the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra, plays a critical role in ensuring musicians can focus entirely on their artistic work by managing the administrative and logistical operations that support the ensemble’s daily functions.

Based in Newark, Ohio, the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra serves as a cultural anchor for Licking County and surrounding communities, presenting classical and contemporary performances throughout the year. Nehring oversees personnel matters including musician contracts, scheduling, payroll, and coordination of rehearsals and performances, allowing artists to concentrate on preparation and execution without distraction from operational concerns.

In her role, Nehring acts as a liaison between the orchestra’s musicians, administrative staff, board of directors, and external vendors. She manages onboarding for new members, handles personnel records, and ensures compliance with labor standards and organizational policies. Her work contributes to the stability and professional environment necessary for sustained artistic excellence.

The Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1979, has grown into a regional institution known for its educational outreach, youth programs, and collaborations with local schools and arts organizations. Nehring’s behind-the-scenes efforts help maintain the infrastructure that enables these initiatives to continue season after season.

While musicians receive public recognition for their performances, personnel managers like Nehring are essential to the operational health of cultural organizations. Her responsibilities include coordinating travel for off-site concerts, managing instrument insurance and logistics, and supporting musicians during contract negotiations or personnel transitions.

Nehring’s work reflects a broader trend in arts administration where skilled personnel management is increasingly recognized as vital to the longevity and resilience of symphony orchestras, particularly those operating outside major metropolitan areas. By handling routine yet complex administrative tasks, she enables the orchestra to allocate more resources toward artistic programming and community engagement.

As the orchestra prepares for its upcoming performance season, Nehring continues to manage scheduling conflicts, venue coordination, and musician availability — details that, while unseen by audiences, are fundamental to the seamless delivery of live music.