Meet Ula Kauppi

Executive Director Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra

In 2004, Ula Kauppi and her family made a move that would change the rest of her life. They left the busy city of Atlanta for the calmer, more family-friendly Lynchburg. The move was prompted by her husband's new position following his medical training.

“We wanted to get out of the city and Lynchburg just really seemed perfect,” she said.

With two young children and another born a few years later, Kauppi and her husband prioritized finding a community with strong public schools and vibrant cultural opportunities.

She said they were particularly impressed by the fine arts programs supported by Lynchburg’s schools, especially the strings program, which resonated with Ula’s own interests and as her children got older, they all took part in the strings program.

For the first 12 years in Lynchburg, Kauppi dedicated herself to being a stay-at-home mom but her commitment to her community extended beyond her family.

She became an active volunteer, working through local schools and nonprofits. In 2010, she and friends started the Helping Hands program at Bedford Hills Elementary School, a backpack program providing food for food-insecure children over weekends. Through this work, her passion for nonprofit work grew.

Kauppi’s formal re-entry into the workforce began when she joined the development office at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia. Her role there was a natural fit, blending her organizational skills and community-focused mindset, she said. She further honed these skills during her tenure at the United Way, where she continued her work in development.

In addition to her professional roles, she has continued to volunteer. Since 2020, she has served on the board of the Academy Center for the Arts.

She said she has a lifelong love for the arts, kindled by childhood trips to the symphony and ballet.

“I have always been a patron of the arts since I was a little kid,” she said. “My parents would drag me to the symphony and to ballet and do those things together. And I really grew to love that and have always taken advantage of cultural opportunities”

Now, as a 20-year resident of Lynchburg, she has become a strong advocate for downtown, which she says is integral to the community’s overall health and vitality.

In 2023, when Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra’s executive director, Mike Lewis, announced his retirement, Kauppi applied for the role, which she got and started earlier this spring.

I've had a goal for a while to be an executive director, so that was the other thing that was appealing to me, because that's been a personal goal of mine”

In her role now, she is dedicated to addressing the symphony’s financial challenges and said how important it is to raise funds to support high-quality performances. Sponsorships and donations help run the organization as ticket sales only cover a fraction of the costs.

Despite her busy professional life, Kauppi stays committed to her own personal growth. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nonprofit leadership at the University of Lynchburg and although balancing work, studies and personal life is challenging, she manages to find time for friends and community activities. She said she enjoys attending theater productions, exploring Lynchburg’s restaurant scene, and engaging with people.

“That's my favorite thing to do. I just like to be out and about and see people and talk to people. I can't believe that I have landed in a profession where I get to get paid to talk to people,” she said.