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Symphony president to step down after successful season ; Pierson presided over profitable 2013-14, choice of new music director [Florida Times Union](Florida Times Union Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) David L. Pierson, who led Jacksonville Symphony Association through a financially successful 2013-14 season, has announced he will retire once a successor is hired. "The really great news is that we finished in the black," Pierson said. The $67,000 profit marked the first season since 2009 that the symphony did not operate at a deficit. In the previous four seasons the symphony had operated at deficits ranging from $350,000 in 2010- 11 to $500,000 in 2012-13. The symphony has an accumulated deficit of about $3.7 million. But that deficit isn't a huge problem as long as the symphony can break even or make a small profit each year, said Martin Connor, the Symphony Association's chairman and chief executive officer. "The problem is not the deficit," Connor said. "It's cash flow. ... We have to be balancing the budget." Pierson rejoined the symphony as president in March 2013, having previously led it from 1988 to 1996. While he was president, the symphony board and the musicians union agreed to a new contract; the board, acting on a consultant's report, downsized and reorganized; and the symphony went through a yearlong search for a new music director, choosing Courtney Lewis. "We are deeply indebted to Dave for agreeing to take the symphony's helm again at a time when it was sailing in some very troubled waters," Connor said. During the 2013-14 season, ticket sales were up 17 percent, fueled by interest in the eight guest conductors who led Masterworks concerts, which amounted to auditions for the music director position. Giving and fundraising also increased. A gala for outgoing music director Fabio Mechetti raised more than $200,000 and there were several "very large gifts," Connor said. "There is a lot of support for the symphony out there," Connor said. "A lot of it is caused by the excitement over Courtney Lewis." Henry Fogel, dean of Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts and former president of the League of American Orchestras, said now is the right time for Pierson to step away from what had always been intended to be a interim position. With Lewis now in place as music director, the symphony needs to hire someone with whom Lewis can work as they plan next year's season, said Fogel, whom the symphony hired as a consultant during the 2012-13 season . "It would ineffective for Dave to stay another year," he said. Fogel said Connor deserves a lot of credit for reorganizing the board and putting a renewed emphasis on fundraising. He called the hiring of Lewis "fabulous." Asked if people in Jacksonville should feel optimistic about the symphony's future, he said, "Very, very optimistic." Peter Wright, the symphony's principal clarinetist who is head of the musicians union and a member of the symphony board, said he's sorry Pierson is stepping down, although he knew it would happen. "I have the utmost respect for that man," Wright said. "He's done a wonderful job. Morale has not been this high in many, many years." He said he's not worried that attendance will decline because there's no conductor search this season. "If anything, I think it will go up because of the new conductor," he said. The board and the musicians union have not yet agreed on a new contract for the coming season but have agreed to operate under the terms of the current contract until Nov. 1 while the board looks at the cost of health insurance, Connor said. "I don't anticipate any issue with the musicians," he said. Although the negotiations that took place during the 2012-13 season were at times quite contentious, "I think we came out of it having established a very good relationship," Connor said. The symphony has retained The Catherine French Group, a performing arts search firm, to lead the recruitment effort. The goal is to have a new president in place before the end of the year. Connor said Lewis will be actively involved in the search for a new president.Charlie Patton: (904) 359-4413 (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |