Melodia Mariposa Welcomes Amy Hershberger as Director of Outreach

by Suzanne York

Melodia Mariposa is delighted to welcome Pasadena violinist Amy Hershberger as its new Director of Outreach, a role that combines her passion for performance, audience engagement, and innovative programming.

For Hershberger, music has been a lifelong pursuit. She began playing the violin at the age of three and has since built a remarkable career spanning more than four decades. Her résumé includes a 30-year relationship with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, where she served as Concertmaster for 18 years after being recruited by her predecessor to take over the position.

“Being Concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra was a dream job,” Hershberger said, reflecting on one of the highlights of her distinguished career.

Today, she continues to perform as the Associate Concertmaster of the Pasadena Symphony, frequently appears with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and taught for more than 20 years at the Colburn School. She has also performed at music festivals across the United States and has contributed her artistry to more than 800 film soundtracks.

Despite her extensive professional accomplishments, Hershberger has long maintained a close connection to Melodia Mariposa. She was involved with the organization from its earliest days, performing chamber music concerts on the driveway of founder Irina’s Altadena home before it was lost in the Eaton Fire.

Now, in her new leadership role, Hershberger hopes to help shape programs that inspire both audiences and musicians.

“I’d like to help perk up the day of audience members and players,” she said. “I love to perform. I love to bring joy to people.”

Creative Freedom Creates New Possibilities

One of the qualities Hershberger most appreciates about Melodia Mariposa is the artistic flexibility it offers performers.

Unlike traditional symphony programming, where musicians typically perform complete works from the standard repertoire, Melodia Mariposa gives artists the freedom to curate unique experiences for audiences.

“Playing with Melodia gives me the opportunity to perform for different audiences, such as those in nursing homes, hospitals, and private homes,” Hershberger explained. “It also gives me the opportunity to choose more of the music-to play shorter pieces, or perhaps just a section of a larger work rather than the entire composition. It allows us to be a little more creative.”

That freedom opens the door to unexpected musical discoveries. Last spring, Hershberger came across a collection of Irish folk tunes written on parchment. The music felt ancient and evocative, offering listeners a rare glimpse into another era.

Such programming reflects a broader challenge facing performing arts organizations nationwide. Since the pandemic, many orchestras and classical music presenters have seen attendance decline among traditional audiences while seeking new ways to attract younger and more diverse listeners.

For Hershberger, creativity is part of the solution.

Making Music More Meaningful

In addition to selecting engaging repertoire, Hershberger believes audiences connect more deeply with music when they understand the stories behind it.

“I like to do what I can to inform the audience in order to make it more meaningful for them,” she said. “Telling stories about the music helps.”

By providing context, introducing composers, and sharing the history behind selections, she hopes to create performances that feel less formal and more conversational.

Her vision aligns closely with Melodia Mariposa’s mission of bringing music directly into communities and making classical music accessible, welcoming, and socially connected.

Rather than asking audiences to always come to the concert hall, Melodia Mariposa often brings the music to them, whether in churches, healthcare facilities, community spaces, private homes, or other intimate settings where personal connections can flourish.

Expanding Outreach Across the Community

As Director of Outreach, Hershbergers responsibilities will extend beyond programming. She will also help schedule performances, recruit and coordinate musicians, and identify new venues where Melodia Mariposa can share its music. The role combines artistic leadership with community engagement- an ideal fit for someone who has spent a lifetime connecting people through music.

Hershberger and her husband, Paul, have lived in Pasadena for many years and raised their three children here, all of whom attended Pasadena public schools. As Melodia Mariposa continues to expand its reach throughout the region, Hershbergers experience, creativity, and enthusiasm promise to help bring memorable musical experiences to new audiences while strengthening the organization’s mission of sharing joy through music. For Hershberger, the goal remains simple. “I love to bring joy to people”, she said. And through Melodia Mariposa, she now has an even broader canvas on which to do just that.