Jo May Salonen is the Executive Director of the Missoula Symphony Association. Prior to this position she served on the board of directors for the MSA, most recently as Secretary. Jo May is a longtime resident of Missoula, working in the community in a variety of marketing and public relations roles. She is the former Owner/Partner of Salonen-Smith Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations, LLC and has been working as a freelance marketing professional since 2011.

Classical music has always been her passion and she continues to play the cello in small ensembles. Additionally, her daughter Kennedy plays oboe and English horn for the Missoula Symphony. Active in the Missoula community, Jo May has served on the board of directors for the Missoula Aquatic Club, as well as volunteering for Hellgate High School Wind Ensemble, Football, Basketball and Swim Teams.

Jo May holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications/Broadcast Journalism, from the University of Utah. She and her husband, Brian, enjoy spending time with their two children, Kennedy and Wes, and their two dogs.

A native of Fort Benton, Peter McKenzie received his Bachelor’s degree in music composition from the University of Montana in 2002, and a Master’s degree in music composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Prior to working with the Missoula Symphony Association, he was the Music Education Sales Consultant for Morgenroth Music Center. As a composer, his compositions have been performed throughout the US and most recently a world premiere in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. An avid Griz fan, Peter serves as a board member for the University of Montana Alumni Band. He and his wife Ellen, have two young sons, Ben and Jack.

For the last thirteen years, Kirsten served as second flute in the Missoula Symphony, but is thrilled to serve the Missoula Symphony Association in a whole new capacity! She is a graduate of the University of Montana with a master’s degree in Flute Performance. For years, Kirsten has had a large and thriving flute studio and has been very involved with the Missoula community music scene: adjudicating, offering masterclasses and workshops to flutists in our local schools, co-directing the Missoula community flute choir “Zootown Flutes,” and teaching music classes through the program “Center for Music by People with Disabilities.” Kirsten also recently served as director of 2 Valleys Stage, a performing arts series and school outreach program based out of Seeley Lake.

When she isn’t playing/teaching, you can find her hanging out with her husband and her two kids on a hiking trail, biking or playing outside!

Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, Beth Woody received her Recreation Management degree from South Dakota State University. A successful 26-year career with the YMCA took her from Rapid City, South Dakota, Winter Park, Colorado, and Dallas, Texas to Missoula, Montana. Her YMCA responsibilities included program management, human resources and special events including the race director of the YMCA Riverbank Run, and founding director of the Garden City Triathlon. She is very involved in the Missoula community including volunteer work with the Missoula Youth Homes, YWCA, and is on the Board of Directors of It Takes a Village Global.

Originally hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Sylvia Oman moved to Missoula in 2007 to work in administrative and leadership positions with local non-profit organizations. Prior to this, she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and a Masters of Music in Pedagogy from Boise State University. She is a certified teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has a full studio of violin students, ages 6 to 60+. She has played in the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and the Helena Symphony Orchestra, as well as other ensembles in the area.