“David Schillhammer, the Orlando Philharmonic’s first and only executive director and one of the region’s longtime arts leaders, will step down in February,” writes Matthew Palm in Wednesday’s (11/18) Orlando Sentinel (Florida). “He was hired in 2000 as the Philharmonic arose from the ashes of the bankrupt Florida Symphony. ‘He created a strong board, a strong sense of community and grew the Philharmonic into a national success story,’ said Margot Knight, president of United Arts of Central Florida from 2001-11…. In recent years, the Philharmonic grew its subscriber base, established a new headquarters at The Plaza Live and hired internationally acclaimed conductor and cellist Eric Jacobsen as its music director.” Jesse Rosen, president of the League of American Orchestras, noted that during the past fifteen years, “ ‘His leadership has had a positive impact.’ Schillhammer, 50, said he gave his resignation careful consideration.… ‘I have been contemplating this for some time.’ … Schillhammer … credited his success to the combined efforts of the Philharmonic’s board, staff, musicians and volunteers. ‘I knew when I was hired it was because I was a collaborator, and we all worked as a team,’ he said. ‘We grew together.’ ”
Posted November 20, 2015
