Joyce Russell serves as Executive Director of the Warren Symphony Orchestra, bringing more than 25 years of experience in fund development, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement to one of Macomb County’s longest-standing cultural organizations. Through her leadership, Joyce continues to advance the Symphony’s mission of professional orchestral music, which remains an important and accessible part of the Warren community, and is a passionate advocate for the role the arts play in building strong and connected communities
As Executive Director, Joyce oversees the day-to-day operations and organizational development of the Warren Symphony Orchestra while working closely with its Board of Directors, Music Director, musicians, donors, sponsors, and community partners. Her leadership has helped the Symphony continue its more than five-decade tradition of
providing live professional orchestral music to Warren and communities throughout Southeast Michigan.
The central focus of her work is making the arts accessible to everyone. Under her leadership, the Warren Symphony continues to offer free admission to K-12 students, first responders, and veterans, while maintaining a strong commitment to music engagement. The Symphony’s annual youth concert introduces as many as 1,500
young people to orchestral music, helping inspire a new generation of musicians and music lovers.
Joyce has served in several non-profit leadership positions in Metro Detroit over the past two decades, most recently as The Grosse Pointe War Memorial’s Senior Institutional Advancement Director. Previously, she served at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Habitat for Humanity Oakland County, and Lighthouse of Oakland County. Before her non-profit career, Russell taught marketing for 12 years at area colleges and universities and was appointed as an Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty at Wayne State University.
Her background in philanthropy and fund development is especially important to the Warren Symphony, which relies on the generosity of donors, sponsors, grant funders, and patrons to sustain its programming.