Chicago Philharmonic selects Terell Johnson as executive director

“Terell M. Johnson, former community engagement director for the New World Symphony, is to be the next executive director of the Chicago Philharmonic, a three-decade-old ensemble that has gone through various iterations since its founding,” writes Nicholas Beard in Friday’s (6/4) Musical America (subscription required). “Johnson, who starts July 1, succeeds Donna Milanovich, in the job for ten years and active in hiring her replacement. Johnson is a fellow in Sphinx’s LEAD (Leaders in Excellence, Arts & Diversity) program and holds an MM in clarinet performance from Florida State University. He has large shoes to fill. Milanovich’s tenure saw the profile—and the budget—of the orchestra rise exponentially, at one time serving as the orchestra for the Joffrey Ballet and a regular at the Ravinia Festival. It is currently the resident orchestra of the Harris Theater.”