FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2025
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Announces New Executive Director
KITCHENER,ON – The board of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (KWS) is pleased to announce that Jason Doell has been selected as its new Executive Director.
“It is an immense privilege to be appointed Executive Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony,” says Doell. “The orchestra’s impact on both this region’s and Canada’s cultural life is profound, and I am eager to help shape its next chapter. The musicians and board have shown extraordinary resilience and have made great efforts in recent years, and together with our staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners, I am committed to building on that momentum. With transparency, collaboration, and creativity, I believe we can chart a sustainable path forward that ensures the KWS continues to inspire audiences for generations to come.”
Doell brings a wealth of experience in operations management and leadership in the music and presenting industry, with a career focused on organizational growth through financial stability and capacity building. He will start his new role on October 14.
“Jason Doell’s appointment as Executive Director is a pivotal step in re-building the KW Symphony,” says Bill Poole, Chair of the KWS Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to have someone with Jason’s skills and experience leading the organization through this next chapter.”
The board of the KWS gratefully acknowledges Barbara Smith for her service as Interim Executive Director since July 2024. They also expressed thanks to Margaret Genovese of Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates for leading the Executive Director Selection Committee through a seamless, sensitive and fully professional search process that resulted in Jason Doell being selected.
About the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Founded in 1945, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony grew into one of Canada’s leading regional orchestras, comprised of 52 professional musicians and presenting nearly 90 concerts each year. The orchestra was a mainstay of cultural life in the region and regularly featured on CBC Music.
On September 21, 2023, after 78 years of artistic excellence, the KWS was forced to declare bankruptcy due to the devastating financial impact of the COVID-19pandemic on live performance. Thanks largely to the tireless efforts of the musicians, the bankruptcy was annulled in October, 2024. Over the years, the organization has been steadfastly supported by the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the City of Kitchener, the City of Waterloo, and countless dedicated individuals and sponsors.
The 2025-2026 Resurrection season marks the beginning of a bold new chapter in the Symphony’s storied legacy.
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