In Tuesday’s (11/15) Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Mark Kanny writes, “The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on Monday named James A. Wilkinson its new president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Wilkinson was appointed after his predecessor, Lawrence J. Tamburri, resigned at the end of a two-hour meeting of the executive committee of the board. ‘Larry has done good work,’ said board chairman Dick Simmons. ‘This might be the time, as he said to someone else, to step back and decide what he wants to do.’ Tamburri did not return a call for comment. Wilkinson has been vice chair of the symphony’s Board of Trustees since 2003. He joined the board in 1984 and its executive committee in 1988. … Tamburri became president and CEO of the symphony in 2004, succeeding Gideon Toeplitz. Tamburri was born and raised in Pittsburgh and was president of the New Jersey Symphony in Newark, N.J., before taking charge at Heinz Hall, Downtown. … Career high points occurred in the first part of Tamburri’s term, including hiring Doug Kinzey as senior vice president for audience development and Manfred Honeck as music director. … The symphony’s financial picture has darkened in recent years, along with the general economy. … Wilkinson said an ad hoc committee of the board will recommend to the full board that the strategic plan not be changed, but that its implementation be improved.”
Posted November 15, 2011
