Melrose Symphony Orchestra Names Denise Gaffey President of Its Board of Directors

July 1 2026

The Melrose Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is pleased to announce the election of Denise Gaffey as President of its Board of Directors.

A longtime Melrose resident, Denise is well known throughout the city for her decades of public service. She led the City of Melrose’s Office of Planning and Community Development for many years as City Planner and currently serves as Project Manager for the city’s public safety facilities projects. She brings that same dedication to community building to the MSO, where she has served on the Board of Directors for over 15 years. Her husband, Jason, has also been a violinist with the MSO for over 25 years.

“The Melrose Symphony has been bringing our community together through music for more than a century, and I am deeply honored to help carry that tradition forward,” said Denise. 

Gaffey assumes a leadership role with a legacy dating back to 1918, when the Melrose Orchestral Association was founded. Since its incorporation in 1919 under the first president, Victor Friend, a succession of dedicated leaders has guided the orchestra through more than a century of continuous music-making. Denise succeeds Kathy Radley, becoming the 12th president in the MSO's 108-year history.

Gaffey’s first season at the helm promises to be one to remember. Season 109 opens November 7, 2026, with Tchaikovsky’s legendary Violin Concerto featuring Melrose’s own Charles Dimmick, co-concertmaster of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra.