JAMES STRAWTHER
Executive Director
Jamie Strawther has served SOST since 1998 in a variety of capacities, each vital to the operational and musical functions of the orchestra. A seasoned musician, Jamie is principal of the percussion section playing a variety of instruments. As personnel manager/librarian, he makes sure the right instrumentalists are on stage to play the various pieces we hear, while making sure they all have music to play from SOST’s vast library. Serving the technical side of operations as stage manager, Jamie leads the team of stage technicians who makes sure the lights, sound and staging of our concerts meet the expectations of Maestro Tipton and the musicians. Jamie was promoted to Executive Director in 2024.
MAESTRO CHELSEA TIPTON, II
Music Director
Sponsored by Becky Mason and Family for the 2023-24 Season
Chelsea Tipton II is a renowned American conductor who has earned widespread acclaim for his exceptional musicality, versatility, accessibility, and unwavering dedication to art education. He has held prominent positions as Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra for seven successful seasons and Associate Conductor of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for four seasons. Currently, he serves as Music Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas for his fifteenth season and Principal Pops Conductor with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra for his ninth season.
DEBBIE HIGGINS
Finance Manager/Box Office Manager
(Contact for tickets, general information)
Debbie Higgins has been the Finance Manager and Box Office Manager since 2016. As the finance manager, this 30-year veteran of financial auditing makes sure the board and staff have accurate/timely information keeping the organization financially solvent. Debbie also helps patrons find the ideal seat, whether for the season, holiday or tickets to individual shows. You’ll find Debbie at the Julie Rogers Box Office prior to every concert.
MASON HENDRIX
Director of Operations
(Contact for orchestra auditions, personnel, and operations)
Mason joined the SOST in 2024 as the Director of Operations. Mason earned a degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Music Education and is joining the SOST from Elsik High School in Houston, TX, where he served as the Associate Director of Bands. In addition to being an oboist primarily, Mason is a woodwind specialist and enjoys playing flute, clarinet, and saxophone.
HANNAH MEREDITH
Marketing Manager
Hannah Meredith is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and Psychology. Hannah is responsible for the symphony’s social medias, concert graphics, and photography. Hannah’s background in music, mass communication, and photography plays a vital role in the cohesiveness between the symphony and its promotion. Outside of the symphony, Hannah is a freelance photographer; she takes professional portraits, graduation photos, event photos, and her personal favorite: wildlife photos around Southeast Texas.
BRIDGET PARKER
Production Assistant
Bridget Parker is a graduate of Lamar University with a degree in Musical Theatre and plays a crucial role in ensuring that things run smoothly behind the scenes, particularly in preparing music for our musicians. Beyond her role here, she’s an active member of Triangle Stagecraft and IATSE Local 183, where she contributes significantly to setting up the stage for our concerts. Her background and expertise in both music and stagecraft are invaluable to our team, ensuring that our performances are not only artistically sound but also seamlessly executed.
