Meet Our Team
GDAC Board of Trustees
Lily Symmonds is an experienced executive in the music, education, talent management, and entertainment industries. Originally from Belfast, Maine, Lily studied music at Wellesley College and holds an MFA in music composition from the California Institute of the Arts. She recently completed her MBA at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst.
Lily is passionate about building inclusive and creative communities through the arts. She currently serves as Director of Innovation at The Real School of Music, where she develops programs, leads strategic initiatives, and produces concerts and events across New England. As GDAC President, she leads governance, fundraising, and programming efforts in support of the historic Derry Opera House.
She lives in Derry with her husband, two children, and their dogs, Einstein and Rusty.
Bev is a long-time supporter of the Arts! As a co-founder of both the Windham Actors Guild and the Windham Endowment, Bev has worked on establishing vectors for performing and fine arts to thrive. Bev is also an experienced event producer, having worked with several fundraising organizations and municipalities on events of all sizes. As the Town of Derry Economic Development Director, Bev is a liaison to the GDAC and currently chairs the Public Arts Committee. She believes that the Arts are at the heart of any community and is excited to help grow the GDAC!
GDAC Support Staff
Meet Ryan! Ryan (he/him) has been a part of The Derry Opera House family for the past ten years on the GDAC Support Staff Team as a Tech and now as our Program Assistant. Ryan has worked with several local performing groups during his time at The Derry Opera House. These companies include but are not limited to...Kids Coop Theatre, Londonderry High School, The Voice Studio, and many more. When Ryan is not at the Derry Opera House he can be found at Londonderry High School and Londonderry School District Office where he is their Information Technology Specialist.
Sophia Sargent is a born and raised New England resident, as well as a media personality (TV/Radio)! She is a May 2023 graduate from the University of New Hampshire Durham with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security. If you don't hear her on 95.7 WZID in the morning or 96.5 Life Free Country at night, you may see her on NESN's Dirty Water TV. Sophia doesn’t have much free time, but when she does, she's currently signed with New England Models Group, where she models and acts. Sophia is very excited to be joining the Derry Arts Council, and looks forward to learning more about the nonprofit world!
Meet Amber! Amber (she/her) is new to the Derry Opera House family. She is excited to join the Derry Opera House as a Theatre Support Team Member. She grew up dancing at New Hampshire School of Ballet in Hooksett and continued to dance collegiately for the SNHU Dance Team. While at SNHU she earned a degree in psychology. Amber’s hobby outside of dancing is photography. You can find her taking photos around southern NH!
Meet Bree (she/her)! Bree is excited to join the Derry Opera House as a Theatre Support Team Member this season. Bree comes to us with experience from the Palace Youth Theatre Program where she was an actor in their summer programs. As well as Manchester Central High School's Drama Club. Where she did Stage Management and Theatre Tech. Outside of the Derry Opera House, Bree spends time with her family and her cat Charli and can be also found volunteering with Manchester Central High School's Color Guard and Londonderry High School's Drama Club.