Classical Notes: June 12, 2007 Archive

SPCO makes another key appointment

Posted at 1:37 PM on June 12, 2007 by Don Lee

Another day, another new hire at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

On Friday the SPCO named conductor Mark Russell Smith to take on a new position, director of new music projects.

Yesterday the orchestra filled the vacancy created when its longtime no. 2 man, Barry Kempton, announced in February that he was going back home to head the City of London Sinfonia. Assuming Kempton's old place will be John Mangum, artistic administrator for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who will join the SPCO in August as vice president for artistic planning. Mangum has been with the L.A. Phil since 1999.

The Minnesota Orchestra, which also lost an English executive in February, is "halfway" through its search process, according to the orchestra's Gwen Pappas. She says a committee is now interviewing candidates to replace departed president Tony Woodcock and hopes to name someone when the new season begins in the fall. Woodcock has gone on to New England—Boston's New England Conservatory of Music.