Phoenix Symphony Cellist Laurie Stearns Selby and Tom Selby Commit $500,000 to the CRESCENDO Campaign

PHOENIX (June 10, 2026) – The Phoenix Symphony announced a $500,000 commitment from Laurie Stearns Selby and her husband, Tom Selby, to CRESCENDO: The Campaign for The Phoenix Symphony, directed to the Symphony’s Community Engagement & Education programs. 

Laurie Stearns Selby is retiring this year from a career with the Symphony that began in 1982. In the decades since, she has helped shape some of the Symphony’s most impactful community programs, including Mind Over Music® and its health and wellness initiatives. Tom Selby is a psychologist. The couple has described the orchestra as their extended family.

“Tom and I made this gift because we believe so strongly in the Symphony’s community engagement programs,” said Laurie Selby. “CRESCENDO is an opportunity to ensure these programs continue to reach the people who need them most. We have confidence in the Symphony’s leadership and its vision for the future. After 44 years, this is not a sacrifice — it is a blessing to remain part of this work, and it is my hope that others across our community will join us in our commitment to ensure the future outreach of our Phoenix Symphony.”

The Selbys have framed the gift as an invitation to others. “The symphony was first on our list of the things that have meant the most to us, and we want it to continue with less financial pressure for the musicians,” said Tom Selby. “We hope others feel moved to give from the heart.”

Laurie Selby’s commitment to the community is well known among her colleagues. “For many years, Laurie and I have done community outreach together, and I have watched her give so much of herself, to the children in Mind Over Music and to hospice and Alzheimer’s patients,” said Magdalena Martinic-Jercic, Associate Concertmaster. “It is a beautiful thing that this gift has come full circle for Laurie, because I know it gives her deep joy to be able to give back to her symphony family which she treasures and is so passionate about.”

“A gift of this scale from one of our own musicians is something I have not seen in my years with this Symphony,” said Mo Stein, Board Chair. “Laurie has given this orchestra decades of her artistry and her heart, and that she and Tom would now invest in its future is deeply moving.”

“Laurie has devoted her career to the Symphony and to the community we serve,” said Peter Kjome, President and CEO of The Phoenix Symphony. “She and Tom are investing in the work she helped build, in classrooms and hospice homes across the Valley. Their commitment is among the most significant in CRESCENDO to date, and I know it will move others to follow their example.”

The Selby gift supports CRESCENDO: The Campaign for The Phoenix Symphony, a comprehensive $60 million initiative launched in 2025 as the Symphony approaches its 80th season. The campaign advances artistic excellence, expands education and community engagement, and strengthens the Symphony’s long-term sustainability.

To learn more about CRESCENDO: The Campaign for The Phoenix Symphony, visit phoenixsymphony.org/crescendo

The post Phoenix Symphony Cellist Laurie Stearns Selby and Tom Selby Commit $500,000 to the CRESCENDO Campaign appeared first on The Phoenix Symphony.