The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera welcome inductees Lora Painter, Lars Gjerde, Jennifer Harris, and Adam Marszal
SACRAMENTO, CA – August 22, 2023 – The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera (SP&O) received
a fresh injection of board leadership last week with the election of four new members to the
Board of Directors. The four new members, who include journalist Lora Painter of ABC10, arts
advocate Lars Gjerde, Sacramento State administrator Jennifer Harris, and corporate leader
Adam Marszal, begin their tenure immediately.
“SP&O is honored to have these four experienced business and community volunteers join our
Board of Directors,” said SP&O President Sheree Meyer. “Our board has a track record of
tremendous success, as our recent accomplishments demonstrate, but with these new
members sharing their passion and knowledge, SP&O is poised to reach even greater heights.”
The new board members join the board at a time when the SP&O is on a trajectory of growth
and success. The SP&O’s recently completed 2022-23 season ended with a chorus of
unprecedented achievements, including a reliable and growing subscription base, sold out
performances and, since 2015, over $10 million in gifts and sponsorships made to the
Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera Foundation.
About the new directors
Lora Painter anchors weeknights at 5, 6, & 11 p.m. for ABC10. The California native has a
master’s degree from New York University in Broadcast News & Documentary, and a bachelor’s
degree in Communication from California State University San Marcos. She has two Emmy
nominations for anchoring and writing, and has twice received a “Best Anchor” award from the
Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Lora has been a board member of the Kalamazoo
Institute of Arts and continues to be a member of its Asian Art Advisory Council. She is a former
professor at Anyang University in South Korea. She is also an accomplished singer and plays
several instruments including piano and clarinet.
Norwegian native Lars Gjerde earned his doctorate in organ from the Eastman School of Music.
During his church music career, Lars taught, led choirs and orchestral musicians, and created
events to support charities. He engaged in regional leadership through the American Guild of
Organists. Lars later earned his Nurse Practitioner degree from Yale University and is now a
Nurse Practitioner Supervisor at UC Davis Medical Center. A recent Chapter President of the
California Association for Nurse Practitioners and Chapter Dean for the American Guild of
Organists, Lars is thrilled to serve the visionary board of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera.
Jennifer Harris is the Associate Vice President of Budget Planning and Administration at
Sacramento State University. A Sacramento native and Sac State Alumna, Jennifer has worked
in a variety of fiscal management and oversight roles with the State of California, including the
California State Auditor’s Office, the Department of Finance, and CalPERS. Jennifer credits her
love of classical music to her elementary school violin teacher who took her to hear the
Camellia Symphony Orchestra perform. She is excited to help support classical music and opera
in our community, and in particular increasing youth access to and appreciation of music.
Adam Marszal was born and raised in Carmichael, CA and currently serves as the CEO of his
family’s petroleum company and commercial real estate business. He takes pleasure in being
involved in organizations and different causes in Sacramento. In his free time, Adam enjoys
golfing and being with his wife, Maggie, and their two daughters, Lucy and Blair. Adam’s
interest in music stems from his time in Jesuit High School’s choir as a teenager
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Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera
With its mission to build community, inspire a love of the performing arts, and enrich lives
through music, the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera is the collaborative leader in the cultural
growth of the Greater Sacramento Region having reclaimed its place as one of the region’s
leading performing arts organizations. Since its triumphant return in 2015, the SP&O has made
tremendous artistic, community, and fiscal strides through a business model that has solidly
moved from one of instability to one of stability.
Today, the SP&O serves as a vibrant cultural community asset – one that is shaped by
Sacramento, whose offerings are uniquely of Sacramento, and whose vision for the future is
designed for Sacramento. The SP&O continues its stellar concerts, operas, and community
engagement programs that bring the passion of classical music to schools, hospitals, shelters,
and more. We look forward to continually benefiting this region through our work and
expanding our impact and how we’re able to serve this growing, thriving community.