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November 28, 2007

Exec. director of RI Philharmonic has stepped down

The executive director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic has stepped down after being told he was being let go. David Wax, who joined the orchestra in 2001 after a long stint as head of the Houston Symphony, submitted his resignation to the board last week.

In a news release, board president Almon C. Hall said that the board feels a “different form of leadership is required for the Philharmonic’s future growth. Hall would not elaborate on the phone except to say that board wants to look at the leadership skills required for the next five to seven years to “take this organization to a totally new level.”

But Wax, in letter sent to board members, said that Hall told him that there was a “need for new executive leadership” and therefore the board wouldn’t be renewing his contract, which would have been up in the fall of 2008.

Philharmonic conductor Larry Rachleff said that he was not consulted about the move to oust Wax and said that he was surprised when Wax told him about it on Nov. 17. Rachleff said he had a “wonderful” relationship with the executive director.

-- Journal arts writer Channing Gray

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 3:00 PM | Permalink

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