In Thursday’s (7/31) San Diego Union-Tribune, James Chute writes that the San Diego Symphony has named Martha S. Gilmer as its new chief executive officer. “Gilmer, who will replace Edward ‘Ward’ Gill, is currently vice president for artistic planning and audience development at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra…. The appointment signals a subtle but critical change in direction for the century-plus-old San Diego Symphony. Gill announced in December he would be leaving when his contract expired in September of this year, rightfully citing a decade of achievement…. A business graduate of the University of Minnesota … Gill is at his core a marketer….. Gilmer, however, is a graduate of Northwestern University’s school of music and she has generally worked the artistic side. She’s had a stellar 35-year tenure with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra…. She’s been instrumental in the ensemble’s programming, working closely with the Chicago Symphony’s legendary music directors…. Gilmer lectures and writes frequently on topics of audience development, including appearances with the League of American Orchestras, the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Illinois Council of Orchestras. Perhaps the greatest testament to her success in Chicago came last year from Chicago Symphony patrons Richard and Mary Gray, who donated $1 million to endow her position.” Click here to read Gilmer’s article for Symphony magazine about innovative artistic programming.
Posted August 1, 2014
Photo: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Vice President for Artistic Planning and Audience Development Martha Gilmer with CSO Music Director Riccardo Muti at Vienna’s Musikverein. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
