Ari Solotoff, Executive Vice President for The Philadelphia Orchestra, to Step Down in February 2012

(Philadelphia, November 15, 2011)—The Philadelphia Orchestra announced today that Ari Solotoff, its Executive Vice President and a member of the staff since May 2010, will step down from this role at the end of February 2012. He will continue on staff through the end of April to provide transition assistance. This decision is a personal one for Mr. Solotoff, as he will be stepping back from orchestra management in order to pursue a Juris Doctor degree full time at the University of Maine School of Law. In more than a decade of work, he has served in leadership positions at the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

“Ari Solotoff has been an invaluable leader and advocate for our ensemble since his arrival in 2010,” said Allison Vulgamore, President and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra. “His love for music and his belief in the importance of this Orchestra to the field of classical music made Ari the right person to lead our strategic planning efforts and support our reorganization process. His wisdom, strategic insight, and his partnership will be missed by all, especially me, but I am excited for Ari and wish him nothing but the best as he pursues this new chapter in his life.”

The search to fill this important leadership role has begun, and it is the hope of The Philadelphia Orchestra to have secured a replacement for Mr. Solotoff by the conclusion of his transition period in April. The departure of Mr. Solotoff is not expected to disrupt or shift the transformational and strategic goals previously set for The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2012.

“It has been a true honor for me to serve on the staff of this great Orchestra during such a critical time of change,” said Solotoff. “As I begin to look toward a new professional challenge, I do so with the utmost confidence in this leadership team that will guide our talented and dedicated staff in meeting the goals of the strategic plan and leading this organization to new musical heights. I have great respect and admiration for The Philadelphia Orchestra, and especially Allison, and have accordingly agreed to provide ongoing transition assistance through next April. I look forward to serving this Orchestra well during my remaining months in Philadelphia.”

For more information regarding The Philadelphia Orchestra and its upcoming performances, please visit www.philorch.org.

The Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is among the world’s leading orchestras. Renowned for its artistic excellence since its founding in 1900, the Orchestra has excited audiences with thousands of concerts in Philadelphia and around the world.

With only seven music directors throughout more than a century of unswerving orchestral distinction, the artistic heritage of The Philadelphia Orchestra is attributed to extraordinary musicianship under the leadership and innovation of Fritz Scheel (1900-07), Carl Pohlig (1907-12), Leopold Stokowski (1912-41), Eugene Ormandy (1936-80), Riccardo Muti (1980-92), Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993-2003), and Christoph Eschenbach (2003-08). After 30 years of a celebrated association with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Charles Dutoit continues the tradition as chief conductor.

Since Mr. Dutoit’s debut with the Orchestra in July 1980 he has led hundreds of concerts in Philadelphia, at Carnegie Hall, and on tour, as artistic director of the Orchestra’s summer concerts at the Mann Center, artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestra’s summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and now as chief conductor. With the 2012-13 season, the Orchestra honors Mr. Dutoit by bestowing upon him the title conductor laureate. Yannick Nézet-Séguin assumed the title of music director designate in June 2010, immediately joining the Orchestra’s leadership team. He takes up the baton as The Philadelphia Orchestra’s next music director in 2012.

The Philadelphia Orchestra annually touches the lives of countless music lovers worldwide, through concerts, presentations, and recordings. Each year the Orchestra presents a subscription season at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, education and community partnership programs, and annual appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center; it also regularly tours throughout the world. Its summer schedule includes performances at the Mann Center, free Neighborhood Concerts throughout Greater Philadelphia, and residencies at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.