Virginia “Ginny” Zehr is a scientist, one who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology, but she spent a great deal of her life engaged in music and education, an ideal background for serving as a member of the NCCMI Board. 

Ginny has always loved music and played flute in a number of community orchestras. After being an initial member of the Durham Symphony when it was formed in 19976, Ginny also played with the Raleigh Symphony which she served for 19 years, both as a volunteer manager and then as an employed manager.

When she was at the Raleigh Symphony Ginny persuaded the board to start a children’s series, which was what she liked most. That love for children and arts education led to her being a co-founder of the Community Music School and its first executive director (while she also continued to serve the Raleigh Symphony). It was a natural progression to her next job, that as Education Director at United Arts Council. There she created United Arts’ Artists in the Schools as well as their Arts Integration for Educators programs. United Arts recognized her with their Business Support of the Arts award in the Education category. Then in 2016 Ginny received the Raleigh Medal of Arts “in recognition of her many lasting and tangible contributions to the arts community in Raleigh and Wake County.”

NCCMI provides outstanding education and music experiences for student chamber musicians, and Ginny, with her experience and love for music and arts education is excited to be our newest board member.