Island educator to join symphony

A longtime Hilton Head Island educator is leaving her post to join the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.

Mary Briggs, academic improvement officer with the Beaufort County School District, will become the executive director of the orchestra May 27.

Doug Barry is stepping down.

Briggs said the move will allow her to pursue her first passion,music, in the last part of her professional career.

"I started piano lessons at age 6, and began my career as a music teacher," she said.

Briggs has been working for the district for 11 years.

She got her start as principal of then-Hilton Head Elementary School upper school.

Under her leadership, the Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School and Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts were formed.

Recently, she has worked to improve gifted and talented education programs at schools districtwide.

Briggs said she hopes to expand the orchestra's role in education when she takes her new post.

One of her ideas is to hold concerts on the front lawns of schools.

She said it's also her goal to have more symphony performances in Bluffton.

Fred Caswell, chairman of the orchestra's board of directors, said Briggs was the right fit for the job because of her local ties and love of music.

Valerie Truesdale, superintendent of Beaufort County public schools, said Briggs has been a tremendous asset to the school district.

"Mary's knowledge and experience will be sorely missed," she said.