Official BSO Press Releases

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra distributed the following press releases late Tuesday evening detailing the appointment of their new music director…


Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors Casts Historic Vote for Marin Alsop

Today’s vote will make Alsop, 48, the first female conductor of a major American orchestra. While a contract is finalized, the Board and Musicians released statements.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT
Philip D. English, Board Chairman

“In a final decision today, an overwhelming majority of our Board of Directors voted in support of Marin Alsop as the next Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. We believe greatly in Ms. Alsop’s leadership and her ability to move us into the next era of excellence.

“She is a world-class conductor whose artistic mastery, recording success and highly regarded reputation world-wide will shape an exciting future for the BSO.

“There will be a press conference tomorrow afternoon with more details.”

MUSICIANS’ STATEMENT
Jane Marvine, Chair of the Players Committee

“The musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra are disappointed in the premature conclusion of the Music Director search process. However, this will not dampen our enthusiasm and zest for music making. We will work together with Marin Alsop and every conductor to present the inspiring performances our audiences have come to expect.”



A Historic Partnership:
Conductor Marin Alsop to Lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

The decision ratified by the BSO Board of Directors makes Alsop, 48, the first woman conductor to lead a major American orchestra. She will assume the title of Music Director for the BSO’s 2007-08 season.

Formal announcement of Alsop as the BSO’s next Music Director, approved by the Symphony’s Board of Directors earlier today. Alsop will succeed Maestro Yuri Temirkanov, who steps down at the end of the 2005-06 season, his seventh with the orchestra. With eventual plans to reside in the Baltimore metropolitan area, Alsop will become Music Director Designate for the 2006-07 concert season and will officially take the podium as BSO Music Director for the 2007-08 season.

BSO Board members and Maestra Marin Alsop share an exciting artistic vision for the community. Local leaders, community friends and Orchestra members celebrate this historic occasion in the heart of Baltimore.



Stay tuned, I doubt this will be the end of it.

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

1 thought on “Official BSO Press Releases”

  1. “BSO Board members and Maestra Marin Alsop share an exciting artistic vision for the community.”

    Shouldn’t the distinguished musicians of the BSO also share in any exciting artistic vision for the community, or am I missing something? Where can we read about BSO Board Members’ and Ms Alsop’s exciting artistic vision for the now greatly widened BSO community? Thank you.

Leave a Reply to Garth Trinkl Cancel reply