New GAMAC Director Seeks to Reboot Group’s Place in Community

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The new executive director of the Greater Anderson Musical and Arts Consortium (GAMAC) is no stranger to the organization or community.

Kylie Herbert has been a violinist in the group’s Anderson Symphony Orchestra since shortly after coming to Anderson in 2004 to work at the Anderson Independent-Mail.

Herbert more recently served as director of Habitat for Humanity for a decade, before moving to her new role as leader of GAMAC.

“I'm really excited to be here and help GAMAC,” said Herbert. “We want to see GMAC at the forefront of our community again. I really want to help GMAC be that bright light in our community again that everyone knows that they can look to when they're looking for an amazing musical experience when they want to broaden their horizons and experience something new or maybe old favorites, that we are the place people turn to for that.”

“We want to do a lot of education and outreach and just keep bringing the great music here,” said Herbert. “My biggest goal is to just be in the community telling the story of GAMAC and why music is so powerful and important to our lives and to our community.”

GAMAC’s roots reach back to 1921, with the organizing of the Anderson Music Club, which was dedicated to promoting musical arts in the community, providing scholarships, sponsoring local concerts, and eventually forming the Anderson Civic Chorale in 1970.

In 1991, GAMAC was officially incorporated as an "umbrella" organization to expand and encompass various musical groups including the Anderson Civic Chorale (which became the GAMAC Chorale), a professional Chamber Orchestra and later established a Youth Chorus (1995), a Girls Choir (2003), and adding the Anderson Symphony Orchestra and Electric City Big Band join the consortium in 2006. In 2013, the youth choirs combined to form the GAMAC Children's Chorus.

Herbert’s vision for GAMAC includes expanding the work beyond the annual concerts.

“I want to bring that music to different parts of our community where people already are so they can experience it and realize that it is for everyone,” said Herbert. “And then from there, they'll be encouraged to come to those concerts and buy a season ticket and see what we're doing. I want to help bring GAMAC to places where people already are.”

Herbert outlines some of her goals in this interview with the Anderson Observer.