Page 32 - Phil opening night program digital final

Meet

Paula Harris

Community leader. Financial planner. Author. TEDx Speaker.
Philanthropist. Former Phil board president.

Paula Harris is the co-founder of WH Cornerstone Investments, a wealth management firm focused
on helping clients make thoughtful financial and investment decisions, with a particular focus
on mid-life widowed women. A longtime community leader, Paula has served on numerous local
boards, including as President of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra board. Today, she and her
husband Bill continue their connection to the Phil as longtime supporters and sponsor.
For Paula, that connection began in the early 2000s with season tickets and a growing desire to
become more involved in the community.

A Conversation with Paula Harris
You’ve been connected to the Phil in several During your time as board president, what
ways—as a longtime supporter, sponsor, and experience with the Phil has stayed with you?
former board president. What first drew you to There was a challenging period when the longtime
the Phil?
director, who was also a musician, retired. The
It started around 2002. We were renting office space from organization wasn’t prepared for the transition. We
long time Phil musician George Sharr, who shared flyers went through several difficult years changing executive
about the Phil. We got season tickets and soon after was directors several times and we had to cut a concert for
invited by John Stanton to a Phil meet-and-greet at The financial reasons.
Studio in Duxbury. Eventually, we were able to bring that concert back, and
At concerts, I remember looking around the hall and the experience really bonded the board together. We
thinking, “The audience is older. How do we get younger also worked to bring younger board members onto the
people involved?” I was looking for ways to become more board—people with business backgrounds and different
involved in the community, and I was invited to join the perspectives. We leaned into the expertise and advice
board. of others, and I think the organization became stronger
because of it.
I had never played an instrument, but I’ve always believed
cultural institutions are part of the fabric of a community.
There’s something special about live music and the shared You’ve been involved with many organizations
experience of being together. throughout the South Shore. What makes the
Phil and its relationship with the Plymouth
One of the things I worked on early on was creating
small social gatherings around the concerts that we community unique?
called Symphony Soirees. They were about creating The Phil has a reach that goes beyond Plymouth itself.
opportunities for people to connect—not just through Steven has done a wonderful job connecting the
the music, but with each other before the concerts. It orchestra with schools, libraries, senior centers, and other
gave concert goers more time to socialize and deepen community organizations.
relationships. Being visible and being part of the fabric of the

3 0 ~ Pl y mout h Phil harmoni c Or che s t r a
30 ~ Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra