Meet Chris Petre-Baumer | Director of Marketing and Design, Alpharetta Symphony

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Petre-Baumer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At the Alpharetta Symphony, we believe that arts and culture help create a world that’s infused with more life, warmth, connection, and joy. Isn’t that exactly what the world needs more of? That infusion starts with a community and at the end of the day, the Alpharetta Symphony is a home-grown ensemble made up of community members, just like you. We’re your teacher, your IT guy, your accountant, your server, your secretary, your lawyer. We’re personally invested in improving the state of the arts in our city and our area.

We’re not just powered by the passion and skill of our musicians. This is a joint effort supported by our neighbors in Alpharetta and North Fulton, local companies the see the value in enriching their market through the arts, local and state governments, and many more. It takes a village to make a difference.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
While we share many things in common with our friends at other orchestras around us, I think the thing that sets the Alpharetta Symphony apart is our deep commitment to our community.

We truly see ourselves as an integral part of what makes Alpharetta one of the best places to live in the country (don’t just take our word for it, just Google us!) We partner very closely with our city government and work very hard to build and grow relationships with area businesses, and with our neighbors. Our mission is locally-rooted and that keeps our goals community-driven.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you haven’t been to downtown Alpharetta, you have to check out all of the amazing restaurants that are located right around our central square. We have breweries, fine dining, Indian street food, incredible Mexican food, and some of the best barbecue I’ve ever had, all surrounding the town green.

Shopping also brings a lot of folks from all around metro Atlanta to Alpharetta. From the boutiques downtown, to North Point Mall, to Avalon (for outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment), there’s a lot to see!

But, if you’re coming to Alpharetta, make an evening of it! Have a lovely dinner, drinks, and laugh with friends, then come hear the Alpharetta Symphony and experience the best of our community!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Alpharetta Symphony is growing by leaps and bounds, especially over the last two years and at a rate that truly isn’t common amongst arts organizations nationwide. This growth has many people to thank – we have a small, but incredibly dedicated Board and staff who works to further our mission.

Our Music Director, Dr. Grant Gilman, has skillfully improved the artistic product that orchestra presents to the community in ways that I don’t think we could have dreamed of 10 years ago. Our Executive Director, Kelly Meholic, and our Board President, Susan Hanna, have driven the organization forward impressively, both looking forward to the future and putting their noses to the grindstone to make all of those little details seem effortless.

We’ve had incredible support from local companies and community members that have seen the power of our work. This season, we have not just one, but two, season sponsors – Friends of John Hipes, Inc. and North Point Mall. We also have about a dozen corporate sponsors this season and a growing roster of individual donors, all of whom help drive our mission forward.

Our musicians also deserve a shoutout! The Alpharetta Symphony is a talented ensemble, I have to say. And, while many members of the orchestra are classically trained or are even professional musicians, the majority of our members do something other than music for a living. Their talent and love for the music has led them to us and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Website: https://www.alpharettasymphony.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpharettasymphony/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alpharettasymphony

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alpharettasymphony

Image Credits
Photos by Matthew Hernandez and Eric Burkard