Photo of Mark Williams by Russell Lee
“The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has appointed Mark Williams as its new chief executive officer,” writes Brad Wheeler in Wednesday’s Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada). “Williams is currently chief artistic and operations officer at the Cleveland Orchestra … The 42-year-old Williams replaces Matthew Loden at the … TSO…. The Cincinnati native studied horn performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University. He began his career in artist management, holding posts at Columbia Artists Management and IMG Artists, working with Cecilia Bartoli, Alan Gilbert, Susan Graham, Dawn Upshaw and others. Before his nine-year tenure at the Cleveland Orchestra, Williams served as artistic administrator of the San Francisco Symphony from 2009 to 2012…. Coming with Williams to Toronto will be his husband.… Williams [starts at] the TSO in April, the same month as the orchestra’s 100-year anniversary celebration that brings together current music director [Gustavo] Gimeno and former TSO [music directors].” Said Williams, “When the world shut down, people sought art. I think this is a real moment for performing arts institutions to capitalize on that, and to remind people that in our darkest hours, it is what we do that you wanted.”
