In Thursday’s (10/13) Denver Post, Ray Mark Rinaldi reports, “The Colorado Symphony Orchestra, battling a crippling financial crisis, turned to yet another familiar face Wednesday, bringing in former chief executive Jim Copenhaver to lead its charge to solvency. Copenhaver replaces executive director James Palermo in the symphony’s top spot. Palermo’s departure from the orchestra was unexpected and follows months of operational upheaval. Copenhaver, officially interim director, is a senior partner in JC Enterprises, a management consulting firm. He has become something of a fixer in the fine arts industry, filling in this year as CEO of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, while that Washington D.C.-based organization went through leadership changes. His appointment mirrors the recent return of husband-and-wife Jerome and Mary Rossick Kern as co-chairs of the symphony’s board of directors. The trio oversaw CSO operations during a tumultuous period in the early 2000s. … Kern maintained a strong focus on the future Wednesday, declining to offer any explanation for Palermo’s abrupt exit. Palermo could not be reached for comment.”
Posted October 13, 2011
