Leadership

Administration

Hillary Herndon
Executive & Artistic Director

A nationally renowned violist with degrees from the Eastman and Juilliard Schools of Music, Hillary Herndon has been a professor of viola at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) for more than fifteen years and has taught at Eastman as well as multiple national festivals. Notably, Herndon has an extended history with the SSMF, noting that “SSMF has been my summer home for 12 summers as a Faculty Member, and that time has proven to me how special this Festival and community are.  For one month of the year, our amazing faculty gather here from around the country to work with the next generation of musicians, culminating each week in inspirational performances.”

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In addition to her teaching experience, Herndon is an outstanding violist with a national reputation for her brilliant playing marked by a “sweetly soaring tone” (Time Out New York). She has been heard on NPR and PBS and has collaborated with some of the world’s foremost artists, including Carol Wincenc, James VanDermark, and Itzhak Perlman, who described Herndon as “having it all… a gifted teacher and an excellent musician.” Her reputation as teacher and performer has led to invitations to perform and teach at Carnegie Hall, the Sibelius Academy in Finland, Juilliard, Eastman, and the International Viola Congress.

Herndon most recently served as the president of the American Viola Society and has been co-director of both the Knoxville Chamber Music Society and Mosaic Music Publications.

 


Bruce Mangan
Manager of Production & Operations

An alumnus of SSMF, Bruce is currently the Technical Director of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. As a bass trombonist formerly residing in the Atlanta Area, he played for the Georgia Symphony Orchestra (GSO), GSO JAZZ!, Atlanta Jazz Orchestra, and Sentimental Journey Orchestra. He is also an active brass educator having worked with many middle school and high school music programs in metro Atlanta and Chattanooga.

Bruce’s history with SSMF started when he was a high school student that participated in the festival for several years as a trombone student. Later he became the Assistant Production manager for nearly 15 years under Martha McCrory and subsequent directors before taking a hiatus and returning in 2017.

 

Imani Duhe’
Manager of Admissions & Student Services

Imani Duhe is a versatile Atlanta-born musician and arts leader recognized for her soulful artistry and commitment to music education. As a professional arts administrator, Imani currently serves as the Manager of Admissions & Student Services for SSMF, where she oversees student recruitment and program logistics for the festival’s 69th season.

A passionate educator and leader on the podium, Imani serves as a conductor for Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), leading wind ensembles and working as a brass specialist. Her pedagogical work extends across the greater Los Angeles area, where she frequently leads masterclasses and provides private instruction for the next generation of brass players.

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As a trumpeter, Imani’s performance career spans over 12 years and includes appearances at the world’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl. A highly sought-after collaborator in both classical and contemporary spheres, she has performed with legendary artists such as Ms. Lauryn Hill, Ani DiFranco, Metro Boomin, T-Pain, and composer Daniel Pemberton. Her work also includes performances for live televised events, podcasts, and popular music festivals worldwide.

Beyond the stage and the office, Imani is an active composer, writing and performing original works for her personal ensembles. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Music from the University of Southern California.

Advisory Board

Timothy K. Adams, Jr.
Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor in Music
Chair of Percussion Department
Hugh Hodgson School of Music, UGA
Walter Bitner
Director of Education & Community Engagement
Richmond Symphony
Peter Bond
Trumpet, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
SSMF Faculty Representative
Natasha Farny
Professor of Cello, State University of New York at Fredonia
SSMF Faculty Representative
Andrew Flagel
President
Consortium of Universities
Washington Metropolitan Region
Hollie Greenwood
Student
Cleveland Institute of Music
Wesley Hornpetrie
Executive Director
Third Place Music
Stephen Ray Miller
Chair of the Music Department
The University of the South
Lecolion Washington
Executive Director
Community Music Center
of Boston
Christine Wilson
Founder and CEO
MtoM Consulting
Najib Wong
Director
PMAY Artists’ Initiative
Joshua Simonds
Executive Director
Percussive Arts Society
William Ransom
Professor of Piano
Emory University
Artistic Director
Emory Chamber Music Society
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