Katherine Henderson Poss

Development Manager

katherine@spartanburgphilharmonic.org
864.804-0960

Katherine joined the Spartanburg Philharmonic team in January 2023.  Originally from Spartanburg, Katherine learned to play the cello through Spartanburg District Seven's orchestra program. She went on to receive a partial music scholarship at Furman University where she continued her cello study with the late Dr. Richard (Dick) Maag. Earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History.

After fifteen years in Savannah, Georgia, Katherine and her family returned to Spartanburg.  While in Savannah, Katherine was the executive director of the Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens which, during the years of 2008-2012, was Savannah’s third largest event and tourism draw.  In this role, she was responsible for all daily operations and leading a team of 500+ volunteers during the four-day event which featured nearly 40 private homes and offered 30 events.

Katherine worked with Historic Savannah Foundation to chair their 60th Annual Gala.  This event was a seated and tented event for over 500 attendees.  With successful corporate sponsorships secured, it was the most successful Gala event on record.  Next, she helped launch their inaugural Preservation Month.  This month-long celebration of history and preservation on a local level, correlated to the National Trust’s designation of May as national preservation month. These endeavors earned her the Nichola Parker-Co Volunteer of the Year Award.

Prior to coming to the Spartanburg Philharmonic, Katherine was the development director for the Savannah Philharmonic.  In this role, she solicited sponsors and donors; designed events – including Savannah’s famed Picnic in the Park (an 18,000 person gathering in the Landmark Historic District’s Forsyth Park); assisted in season launches; wrote numerous successful grants on local, state and national levels; fostered relationships with the public and successfully navigated COVID-19 (along with the other staff members), to ensure the organization’s doors would stay open and musicians would continue to play in a safe manner.

Katherine enjoys spending time outdoors with her son and her 18-year-old rescue dog.