International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians Re-elects President 

Paul Austin has been re-elected to his position as president of the organization that supports thousands of orchestral musicians around the U.S. and Puerto Rico

Founded in 1962, the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) represents nearly 4000 symphonic musicians in the top 53 orchestras in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to promote better livelihoods for orchestral performers and enrich cultural life.

Announced at ICSOM’s recent annual conference, Paul Austin will continue serving as ICSOM president. A horn player in the Grand Rapids Symphony (GRS) Austin will be starting his third term in the role. 

Also renewing a role, is Laura Ross for ICSOM secretary. Both Austin and Ross were re-elected for their same positions back in 2019. The latter is a violinist in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and has been ICSOM Secretary since 2002. 

Austin is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Tennessee Tech University. He joined the GRS in 1999 and played a significant role in the drive for them to join ICSOM in 2013 — serving as their first delegate.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Ross was a member of the Toledo Symphony prior to joining NSO in 1984. She has also served on the ICSOM Electronic Media Committee since 2000.

“For 60 years, our organization has been a vital part of the cultural life of our society,” Austin said in the press release. “ICSOM brings together our nation’s best and brightest orchestral musicians in order to facilitate communication and improve our industry.”

Additionally, ICSOM’s Governing Board re-elected two members — Keith Carrick and Kenneth Thompkins — who will serve a two-year term in the role of ICSOM Member at Large.

Carrick joined the Utah Symphony as principal percussionist in 2012. From 2007 to 2012, he held the same role with the Sarasota Orchestra. Thompkins has been principal trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) since 1997, and is also co-chair of ICSOM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.