Deirdre Harrison served as Director of Development at Snow City Arts from February- November, 2020, coming directly from her role as Chief Operating Officer and before that Interim Development Director for GRAMMY award winning sextet Eighth Blackbird. Previously, she was the Director of Development for the MacArthur-funded shared advancement staff project Creative Partners, Director of Development and Communications for Rush Hour Concerts/Make Music Chicago through its merger with the International Music Foundation, and for several years Music Institute of Chicago’s first Director of Community Engagement.
Additional non-profit administration experience includes launching Global Citizenship Experience Lab School and work as Director of Admission and Financial Aid for Baker Demonstration School.
Deirdre earned a double BA at Yale before completing her theater training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She is currently in the midst of earning her certificate at Northwestern Kellogg’s Center for Nonprofit Management. She is an active alumna of the Community Arts Education Leadership Institute.
A dual American-Irish citizen, she worked in the UK, EU and US for many years as an actress, singer and director before beginning her career in nonprofit administration. Deirdre is still active in the arts world, having sat in several boards, and currently co-produces Chamber Music at Bethany with her former Eighth Blackbird colleague, cellist Nick Photinos, and performs all over Chicagoland with her literacy chamber band, The Lucky Trikes, who will release their second album “How to Listen” in early 2021.