St. Louis’ Sheldon Gets New Exec. Director

Ray Marklin Photography – Peter Palmero

Peter Palermo has been named Executive Director of The Sheldon Arts Foundation and the 712-capacity Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. He will take the reins from the retiring Paul Reuter, who announced his intention to step down in June.

The transition will take six months, beginning Dec. 3. Palermo comes to St. Louis from Lebanon, Ill., where he previously oversaw the completion and occupancy of the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts at McKendree University.

“The Sheldon Concert Hall is a true cultural gem for the city of St. Louis. Paul and his team should be proud of their many accomplishments,” Palermo said in a statement. “I’m honored to be coming on board and can’t wait to get to work.”

Palermo was selected through a search process led by DHR international and a committee of Sheldon board members.

Reuter has been serving as The Sheldon’s executive director for 24 years, and helped develop the venue’s five distinct concert series, its education programs, and nurtured the Sheldon Art Galleries. He has also led fundraising events keeping The Sheldon in the black and with the interfaith organization Arts & Faith St. Louis.

“It has been a true joy to be part of The Sheldon’s remarkable team of staff and board members for the past 24 years, and I know that Peter has all the skills, experience and passion needed to take The Sheldon to the next level of quality and service to our community,” Reuter said in a statement. 

Sheldon Concert Hall’s last reported show was I’m With Her March 6, which moved 706 tickets for a gross of $24,100. Prior to that Tommy Emmanuel grossed $33,363 on 674 tickets Feb. 14.