In Sunday’s (9/9) New York Times, Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim writes, “When the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra began rehearsals recently for its season opener this weekend under the baton of its music director, Jacques Lacombe, one player who has been central to the ensemble was missing onstage—one so central, in fact, that everyone used to tune to his A. But that man, James Roe, the orchestra’s principal oboist for the last two years, did not leave the organization. He now leads it as president and chief executive. … Mr. Roe’s appointment to the highest level of management is part of a budding trend … the arrival of a new breed of administrator intimately acquainted with the players and the music itself points to a potential change in climate. Last fall, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra appointed Mark Niehaus, its principal trumpeter for the last 15 years, as president and executive director. In March, Kyu-Young Kim, the principal second violinist of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, became its senior director of artistic planning. And beyond promotion within the ranks, a growing number of professionally trained musicians are in leadership positions across the country, among them the clarinetist Gary Ginstling, president and chief executive of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; the oboist Peter Kjome, who holds the same titles at the Grand Rapids Symphony; and the violinist Katy Clark, president and executive director of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in Manhattan.” Symphony magazine reported on this trend in 2010.
Posted September 30, 2013
