In Friday’s (6/17) News-Journal (Wilmington, Delaware), Betsy Price writes, “Some heart-to-heart talks between outgoing Delaware Symphony Orchestra executive director Lucinda Williams and arts lover Tatiana Copeland led to a huge surprise unveiled at this week’s DSO annual meeting: Copeland donated $1 million to the symphony’s foundation in Williams’ name, hoping both to fulfill Williams’ desire to leave the symphony in better shape than she found it and to help fund the salary for a new director. The unexpected gift, announced Tuesday night, effectively will double the symphony’s endowment. Like other arts groups, the symphony uses the interest off its endowment to pay salaries and more. … Williams, who has been with the symphony for four years, will leave her post in July. She felt she could not do her best, especially in a difficult economy, after a March 2010 car accident in which she was severely injured. Six months later, her spine collapsed, requiring surgery and rehabilitation. During that period, her parents moved next door to her in Old New Castle so Williams could help her mother battle breast cancer, and [grandson] Lucien was diagnosed [with diabetes]. … The symphony has hired the Catherine French Group, the agency that recommended Williams, to start a search.”
Posted June 17, 2011
