“Russell Jones, director of major gifts at the New York Philharmonic, is to be the new president and CEO of the Stamford (CT) Symphony,” reports Nicholas Beard in Sunday’s (10/9) Musical America (subscription required). He succeeds Barbara Smith-Soroca , who is retiring after 39 years at the helm. Smith-Soroca is scheduled to be honored at the orchestra’s season-opening concert on October 14. Stamford is a 60-member, fully professional ensemble that offers two performances each of five programs per season. Its annual budget is $1.5 million. Its origins trace back to 1919, with a rebirth in 1967; it became fully professional in 1974 when Skitch Henderson took over as music director. Eckart Preu was its music director from 2005 through last season. A search for his successor is underway. Jones has been in the development department at the Philharmonic since 2012; previously he was VP for marketing and membership at the League of American Orchestras from 2007. A Brit by birth, he has also held positions in the U.K. with the Association of British Orchestras, Business in the Arts, and the National Federation of Music Societies.”
Posted October 10, 2017
