“The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has tapped an executive from the Detroit Symphony to lead the 47-year-old classical music ensemble,” writes David Ng in Thursday’s (8/20) Los Angeles Times. “Scott Harrison currently serves as vice president for advancement and external relations at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra” and will begin as LACO’s executive director in October. “Harrison, 35, will succeed Rachel Fine, who left the L.A. group earlier this year…. Prior to joining the Detroit Symphony, Harrison worked at the Indianapolis Symphony and the New Jersey Symphony.” Harrison is also a graduate of the League of American Orchestras’ Executive Leadership Program for Marketing and Development Professionals. He describes the Detroit Symphony musicians’ strike, which ended in 2011, as “incredibly difficult. The city was in financial distress. For me, what was challenging, once we decided we were moving forward, was how do we rebuild confidence and prove to folks that this is still a great orchestra?” The article notes that though “the L.A. Chamber Orchestra has had to contend with a challenging fundraising environment,” Harrison “doesn’t foresee making any radical changes to the L.A. Chamber Orchestra. ‘I like what I’m seeing at LACO and want to join the culture,’ he said.”
Posted August 21, 2015
