‘This is where it all begins’ – a WVU Music Business and Industry alum packs the house

Story by Rachel Brosky. Photos by Brian Persinger.

At 5:30 p.m. on a stormy March evening, the voice of Washington Symphony Orchestra Principal Conductor Yugo Ikach echoes as he sings the melody of “On My Own” from “Les Misérables.”

There is a stillness in the empty theater, the lights glowing on its yellow seats, each with a small paper label awaiting its guest for the evening.

On stage, the orchestra slides between pre-show jitters and jokes, from moments of dancing sultrily during a “Chicago” medley to sharp baton movements perfecting the orchestra’s timing for different portions of the night’s musical theater scores.

Just outside the doors of the theater, West Virginia University alum Cassandra Muhr is doing her own form of conducting: organizing the tables for ticketing, merchandise and mid-show concessions. At the same time, she’s folding programs, checking in on performers and technicians, and answering the questions of the interns and many volunteers preparing for “WSO’s Take on Broadway.”

It’s not common to see a general manager taking on those tasks, but as the only employee at the WSO, Muhr wears almost every hat, constantly relying on the skills she learned earning her Music Business and Industry master’s degree from WVU.

“I don’t think I could do this job without having gone through that program,” Muhr said. “I use everything — from the skills that I learned in the management class, to learning about what copyrights are needed to play certain music and how to maneuver through the industry. Some of the things that I learned in the tech classes, I used to help our sound manager get things set up, and the program helped give me confidence to oversee people.”

Overture

At 6:30 p.m., the musicians stretch and grab water, the rhythm section jams out a portion of “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked,” and Muhr’s grandmother enters the steadily filling lobby of the Washington and Jefferson College Olin Fine Arts Center, drink in hand, ready to take her seat near the front. The WSO shows, which she never misses, mark a new chapter in the pair’s shared love of music that began when Muhr was a toddler.

“There are pictures of me at probably 3 years old singing karaoke at the Moose Lodge family nights my parents and grandparents took me to. When I was around 13, I was having a hard time in school and I found Hunter Hayes, whose music really spoke to me. Soon after, my grandmother took me to my first live concert. We were in the second-to-last row and Hunter Hayes was the opening act. After he left the stage, I looked at my grandma and said, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to do music.’”

Muhr learned music “from the ground up” in her four years at Washington and Jefferson.

“I came in with the intention of going into music production, and I quickly learned that I didn’t like it and was terrible at it,” Muhr said. “I was hosting at WNJR Radio, and through that, I discovered I loved working with artists.”

That discovery led her to the WVU Music Business and Industry master’s program, where she learned the management side of the industry.

“I’m a people person, and so for me, this is a great way to get to work with people from all walks of life,” she said. “Since I love music, but I’m not musically inclined, this is an opportunity for me to be involved in that creative process. I also like staying busy and, in this role, every single day is different. I absolutely love that.”

Muhr began her career as a marketing manager for the River City Brass Band, but her people skills paid off when she applied for the job of general manager at the WSO.

The WSO was founded in Washington County, Pennsylvania, by music director Dave Owens in 2002, as a way of strengthening the community through music. The orchestra currently has an average of 65 musicians throughout its annual four-concert series, including professional contractors, retired musicians and high schoolers who join the orchestra through its “Side by Side” exploration program.

Along with the musicians, Muhr works closely with the orchestra’s 17 board members, as well as the music librarians, dedicated volunteers and interns, including some from WVU.

Though she grew up in Washington County, Muhr wasn’t involved with the orchestra before being hired. Despite that, the organization welcomed her with open arms.

“I’m one of the youngest people in this organization, so it was a little frightening to have to oversee people twice my age,” Muhr said. “I think knowing that I had the academic knowledge behind me made me more confident with that.”

Crescendo

By 7:20 p.m., Muhr stands in the backstage area wishing luck to the musicians and joking with the vocalists, who don costumes reflecting characters from “Kiss Me Kate” and “Wicked.” Ten minutes later, she examines the packed theater, ensuring all patrons find their assigned seat — a first for the WSO.

Once everyone is settled, she gives the signal to turn down the lights. Then Ikach, who has served as the orchestra’s music director and principal conductor for 20 years, and who is himself an alum of the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media, smiles and takes the stage to begin the first number.

Muhr is overseeing WSO’s second sold-out season in a row. The first night of the Broadway-themed show is particularly special. It’s the first show to sell out before the day of the performance and the first time she has seen people enter the theater in WSO merchandise.

“When I came to the orchestra, the board asked, ‘What’s one goal that you have?’ and I said, ‘Oh, I’d love to sell out a season,’” Muhr said.

“Then, I sold out the first season. I’m very proud of that. It’s been a little hard trying to set goals now when we’re at full capacity, so we’re looking at expanding our programming.”

Her success stems from her work in the off-season, helping select themes and selections for each concert, handling all the orchestra’s advertising and promotions and helping secure partnerships, like one with the Washington Community Theatre, which lent their vocalists to the WSO’s Broadway-themed shows.

Muhr beams as the orchestra booms with the opening number, “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” and pulls out her phone to capture a clip for the orchestra’s social media channels. She praises each vocalist as they return backstage and talks through highlights with her best friend, who is volunteering for the night. Muhr spends the rest of the show moving between backstage and the lobby, ensuring all is running smoothly, as well as popping onstage post-intermission to introduce the 50/50 drawing, a prize of over $400.

“That’s a lot!” someone exclaims from the back of the theater.

Encore

At around 9:30 p.m., the orchestra closes out its show with a medley from “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Applause roars and the lights rise once more. The storm has died down, and the audience departs into the warm night.

But it’s not time to pack away the music yet. The same show will be performed the next afternoon.

One day, Muhr said she hopes to explore independent artist management. Right now, though, she is focused on the WSO — overseeing the final few shows of the 2025-2026 concert series and taking her hometown orchestra national for the first time with a June 2026 performance in Deep Creek, Maryland.

Where she goes, whatever she does, Muhr will be wearing, on a necklace close to her heart, a clear vial holding a paper inscribed with lyrics from that fateful concert with her grandmother:

“This is where it all begins.”