As the Southern Tier Symphony prepares for its opening set of concerts this weekend, leaders have announced some updates to the organization as a whole.

Conductor Ben Grow, now in his second year at the podium, said this season’s theme of “Wonder” was broad enough that could fit many styles under it but hopefully indicative of the audience’s experiences to come.

“Wonder seemed to describe what it’s like to see a symphony orchestra — seeing 50, 60 people on stage work together to create one sound. Certainly as a musician myself that strikes me as something awesome, in the classical sense of the word,” Grow said.

The New York City-based conductor added the theme also encompasses his emotions going into the organization’s 16th year.

“I still feel kind of new, and we have some administrative changes,” he said.

Those changes include a new executive director Betsy Cashing, who previously served as the symphony’s board president. She replaced Kim Whitney, whose husband John founded the organization, after Whitney moved to North Carolina at the end of last season in order to be closer to her family.

Whitney’s move came just as Cashing’s time as president ran out, so Cashing decided to transition into the executive director role — although she noted it wasn’t a big leap, given the collaborative nature of the symphony’s members and leaders.

“We have titles because agencies need titles … so that we have everything in place,” she said. “But our nonprofit is like any other, where everybody pitches in to make sure everything that needs to get done gets done. I think we do that well — I’m biased, but I think we do that well.”

Cashing said Whitney is planning to maintain involvement as a musician with orchestra during concerts, and is back in the area for this weekend’s shows.

“It’s always sad when you put distance between friends, but it’s surrounded by extreme gratitude for what John and Kim have done, and their commitment to continue music programming for the greater Olean area,” Cashing said.

Before moving to Cuba, N.Y., in 2009, Cashing lived in Olean, N.Y., for 29 years and served as a middle school Spanish teacher in Olean City School District. She is now a lecturer at St. Bonaventure University’s School of Education.

“Betsy has been a really important engine for us,” Grow said.

Replacing Cashing as the symphony’s board president is Craig Polson of Olean.

Additionally, the symphony has redesigned its website. Grow said while there is still a ways to go before the site is fully populated, he hopes it will be more “full service” now with aspects like online ticket purchasing.

“I just thought it might be time for the site to reflect the goals of the ensemble,” he said. “All the kinds of stuff that will give people an idea of what the Southern Tier Symphony is all about.”

Grow himself has been a real plus for the organization, according to Jerry Harvey, board member and a spokesperson for the group in Bradford. He noted Grow’s family ties to Bradford through his late grandparents, Charlie and Dorothy Grow, who were respected professionals in the community.

“One of the things (Grow) is making an effort to do is to go around to the area schools and be in touch with the music and band instructors,” Harvey said. “Hopefully, it will be passed on to the students to come” to the concerts.

Grow said he hopes the same, after visiting Bradford’s Kiwanis Club, Bradford Area High School and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford just this week. He noted his biggest priority when visiting schools is to make people aware of the symphony’s local shows so students can have the educational opportunity of seeing musicians play live.

“I remember growing up wanting to see my teachers performing at a high level,” he said. “There’s something you can learn from that experience you just can’t get from a book.”

Other educational offerings from the symphony will include pre-concert talks led by Grow before each performance.

While the musical themes of this season, Grow said his organizational themes include continuing to get to know the orchestra better so they can play better together, and to more heavily embrace the culture of the Southern Tier.

“There is a familiarity with being in a small community, and I want to lean into that,” he said. “We really enjoy that, and I think that sets us apart from other orchestras.”

For Cashing, caring about the community is what “brings the heart to the organization.”

“It’s such an opportunity in the area we live to combine all the elements in life that make life enjoyable,” she said. “In our society, we find ourselves stressed so much that (the orchestra’s) goal is to find times to to allow us all to destress.

“Unless you’re actually planning the event,” she said with a laugh. “Then there’s a little bit of stress.”