1982 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Audrey G. Baird is an expert in the field of audience development for nonprofit arts and volunteer organizations. She maintains a full schedule counseling community arts groups and orchestra leagues nationwide. She is the originator of the Milwaukee Symphony’s Kinderkonzerts, Young Artists Auditions and Concert, Senior Citizen Concerts and Coffee Concert Series. She earned the Milwaukee Symphony’s Gold Baton Award in 1964 for her innovations. Featured in the American Symphony Orchestra League’s magazine as a person who has touched the lives of hundreds, she has served on the board of ASOL and as president of the League’s Volunteer Council. She has been a leader of the Milwaukee Florentine Opera Company, the Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre and Chamber Orchestra and has been the national chair of the American Symphony Orchestra League’s Challenge Fund Drive. The Volunteer Council of the ASOL presents a national Audrey Baird Award for the most creative orchestra season ticket campaign. Recently she received the Association of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra’s award for outstanding service to music, Opera Guilds International’s Partners in Excellence Award and the String Academy of Wisconsin presented her with its 1999 Arts Leadership Award. She has also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from State University College, the American Symphony Orchestra League Award for Distinguished Service to Symphony Orchestras, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Distinguished Service Award and the Claudine Wible Award for Outstanding Community and Business Achievements. Mrs. Baird has three children.
