Musician-at-heart, GYSO mom, and now leading the board into our next era.
If you told Rebecca Strojan Weaver back in her Suzuki violin days that she’d one day be chairing the board of a historic symphony orchestra, she might have laughed—and then picked up her violin. Or french horn. Or headed off to church choir or high school theatre rehearsal. Either way, music and the arts have always been part of Rebecca’s story, and now it’s part of her legacy, too.
Raised in the small town of Chardon in Northeast Ohio, Rebecca’s family life was steeped in music. She inherited a violin from her grandmother, her mom played the piano at home, and her sister sang in the choir. Rebecca started violin in kindergarten after being inspired by some family friends and added French horn in fifth grade, as there wasn’t an orchestra option at school. “I wasn’t amazing,” she says with a grin, “but I was enthusiastic and committed.”
Fast forward to today, and her enthusiasm and dedication is being poured into the Georgia Symphony Orchestra as she steps into her new role as chair of the GSO board of directors. It’s a milestone moment: this season marks 75 years of the GSO and 20 years of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO)—an organization she knows well, not just from the boardroom, but from the carpool line.
Her youngest son, Will, spent six seasons in GYSO, starting in Camerata and working his way up to Principal Violist in the Symphony, while also performing in the Honors String Quartet and String Symposium. “We learned about GYSO from a colleague of mine—Bob Bonstein—who knew I had a kid obsessed with music,” Rebecca recalls. “It was exactly what Will needed and GYSO opened up so many opportunities for him.”
Through GYSO, Will not only grew as a musician, but found close friendships and meaningful mentorships with teachers and more advanced students. He even got the chance to premiere one of his own original compositions, Fire, with the GYSO Philharmonic. “It was wonderful to watch his confidence grow,” Rebecca says. “Those GYSO years were formative and hold such fond memories for both of us.” Will is now majoring in viola performance at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.
Her older son, Nathan, also keeps the family music tradition alive by playing bass guitar in a college band called The Looks. “I like to think our family’s ‘DNA’ had something to do with that,” Rebecca says, “given our history, constantly coming and going from rehearsals, and sharing all kinds of music with each other at home or in the car”.
Professionally, Rebecca brings strategic savvy to her GSO role from her role as a consultant and change leader with Collective Insights. She holds degrees from Wellesley College (BA in Economics and Political Science) and Emory’s Goizueta Business School (MBA). She has lived in the Atlanta area for almost 30 years and has called East Cobb home for the past eleven.
But it’s her musical roots—and now, her parent perspective—that shape how she sees the organization. Alongside the dedicated board and talented staff, Rebecca is honored to serve in this milestone year and beyond – building on the legacy of the GSO and GYSO, championing music education as a vital part of our cultural fabric, and shaping a vibrant future for the next generation of musicians and music lovers in our community.
As for what’s next, Rebecca is excited to help guide the GSO and GYSO into a future that’s as dynamic and inspiring as its past. “I’m honored to carry forward the rich tradition of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and support the educational excellence of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. Music connects me to my family’s past and future—it’s a thread that ties generations together. I believe in the transformative power of music, as an art form, and as a vital force in education and in building stronger, more connected communities. I want to help shape a future where music continues to thrive, inspire, educate, and unite.”
