The search for Symphony Tacoma's next Executive Director went national, and it ended right here at home.
Our Board of Directors has unanimously appointed Karina Bacica-Busch as Executive Director. Karina has led Symphony Tacoma as Interim Executive Director since April 2026 and guided us into our 80th season, so for many of you, this is already a familiar name.
A national search with a local answer
The appointment follows a national search led by a committee of board members, musicians, and staff, working with Christopher Wingert of Aspen Leadership Group.
"We conducted a national search and asked hard questions of every candidate," said Kit Evans, President of the Symphony Tacoma Board of Directors. "In the end, the right person for Symphony Tacoma was already here. Karina knows this organization from every side, and she's already shown us what she can do."
Seven months of steady work
As Interim Executive Director, Karina focused on putting Symphony Tacoma on solid financial and operational ground. She resolved outstanding filings and financial reconciliations, brought expenses down, and grew revenue through donor events, sponsorships, and individual giving, including a significant corporate sponsor.
Over those same seven months, we welcomed new donors, new season subscribers, and a lot of people hearing Symphony Tacoma for the very first time.
"I'm grateful to the board and the search committee for their trust, and I'm ready to get to work," said Karina. "These past seven months have given me a close look at what Symphony Tacoma does well and what needs our attention next, and I've come away more confident in our future than when I started. The orchestra and chorus are the heart of this organization, and I look forward to building what comes next alongside our musicians, our staff, and this community."
Tacoma roots
Karina's connection to orchestral music in Tacoma started long before this job. She played in the Tacoma Youth Symphony from 1993 to 2000, and she joined Symphony Tacoma's Board of Directors in 2024.
She brings nearly two decades of experience in finance, human resources, and administration. Most recently, she was Vice President of Administration at Columbia Bank from 2020 to January 2026, working directly with the CEO and president on strategic planning, executive communications, and relationships with the board, employees, community leaders, and investors.
Before that, she served as Controller/CFO at Crystal Mountain Resort and held controller and human resources leadership roles at Fournier Insurance Solutions and Kel-Tech Plastics. She also spent seven years at The Summit at Snoqualmie, working her way up from Accounting Manager to Controller and Director of Human Resources for a workforce of more than 1,400.
Outside of work, Karina served on Central Washington University's Alumni Board of Directors from 2014 to 2023, including two years as president, and as a member and president of the St. Patrick Catholic School Commission. She also owns Olympic Glass Concepts, which sells handcrafted art-glass nail files nationwide and employs Pacific Northwest glass artists.
She holds a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Barry University and a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Justice and Accounting from Central Washington University.
If you see Karina at a concert, please say hello and welcome her. And if you have questions, ideas, or just want to tell us what Symphony Tacoma means to you, we'd love to hear from you.
