How Many Of Your Power Players Sit On The Board?

The March, 2013 edition of Chicago Magazine features an article titled “100 Most Powerful Chicagoans” and my first thought was “I wonder how many from the list serve on local performing arts boards?” Imagine how pleasing it was to see that one of the related featurettes, “It’s Cozy at the Top,” connected those very dots in a convenient infographic. Out of the five high profile arts orgs in Chicago included in …

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Interesting Developments In Denver

The 2/1/2013 edition of the Denver Post reports that Colorado Symphony Orchestra (CSO) CEO Gene Sobczak has decided to leave the organization. Sobczak leaves the position after stepping in for one year following the ugly and very public board split led by former CSO board chair and current League of American Orchestras board officer Bruce Clinton. The Post article, by Ray Mark Rinaldi, reports that the CSO will fill Sobczak’s position …

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NJSO And The Damage Control Two-Step

The beleaguered New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) continues to deflect negative press following the Richard Dare scandal. After calling a press conference to officially release their 2013-14 season, NJSO spokespersons reportedly became agitated and short with reporters who, perhaps unsurprisingly, were inquiring about the Dare ordeal. Brian Wise from WQXR authored an article that was published on 1/29/2013 reports that the NJSO’s artistic leadership expressed confidence in the institution. “I feel …

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Louisville Begins Patching The Gaps

The 1/28/2013 edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal published an article by Elizabeth Kramer that reports the Louisville Orchestra has named David Hyslop to serve as interim chief executive officer. There’s no mention of whether or not Hyslop’s contract is for any specific length of time or whether or not he’ll be performing the bulk of his duties remotely from his home in Minnesota or moving to Louisville to work full time …

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Tough Choices Ahead for New Jersey

In the wake of the Richard Dare resignation incident examined in yesterday’s article, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) finds itself in an unenviable position of damage control. The most pressing issues are related to what appears to be a breakdown in due diligence during the executive search process. Look Below The Surface Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bulk of initial focus will be on the NJSO search committee’s actual due diligence but …

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