Mark Volpe Retiring from the Boston Symphony

This is big news: Mark Volpe, who has been President and CEO of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for the last 22 years, will retire from that position in just about a year, as of February 1, 2021.

He has been very successful, raising more than $700 million for the orchestra and increasing its endowment to $456 million, the largest among US orchestras. He recruited Andris Nelsons as the orchestra's music director. I see that the press release does not mention ahem James Levine, whose health caused no end of problems for both the BSO and the Met, not to mention, you know...

The press release is after the cut.

BOSTON - January 22, 2020 – The Boston Symphony Orchestra today announced that its highly respected and long-serving President and CEO, Mark Volpe, will retire at the end of February 2021. At the time of his retirement, Volpe, considered one of the most esteemed orchestra managers in the world, will have guided the storied institution for 23 years.

During his BSO tenure, Volpe oversaw an unprecedented period of artistic, programmatic, building, and financial growth and change at the famed 139-year old institution. As CEO of BSO, Inc., he has been responsible for all the activities of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, and Tanglewood, as well as the institution’s real estate holdings in Boston and the Berkshires, a scope of activities unmatched by any other orchestra in the world. In addition to his many accomplishments with the BSO, Volpe’s tenure with the orchestra, along with his previous leadership positions with the orchestras of Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Detroit, represents an impressive 37-year commitment to the advancement of the field of classical music in this country.

Volpe, who celebrated his 22nd anniversary as President and CEO of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the start of the BSO’s 2019-20 season in September, supervised a significant increase in the orchestra’s assets in an ever-changing economic environment, while furthering its artistic mission of musical excellence and bringing the BSO to the widest possible audience through live performances, recordings, national and international touring, and traditional and new media, including bso.org, one of the largest and most visited orchestra websites in the world. During Volpe’s tenure, the orchestra expanded its reach through a wide variety of social media platforms, discounted ticket programs for students and young professionals, and education and community engagement programs in Boston and the Berkshires, as well as through national and international major broadcast activities.

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the CEO of the Boston Symphony Orchestra," said Volpe. "Twenty-three years ago, the first people to call me about the BSO position were Yo-Yo Ma and Isaac Stern. Of course, I had no idea of the adventure I was about to undertake. I will be forever grateful to the Trustees for their wisdom and support, to the incredible staff who made everything possible, but most of all to Andris and the BSO musicians, who grace the stages of Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, and many of the world’s finest concert halls, and make magic happen virtually every time they play. Throughout the next year, I will remain dedicated to the institution’s mission and tradition of excellence, and look forward to working with the board, Andris Nelsons, Keith Lockhart, the orchestra, and staff as we continue to contemplate the future of the BSO."

"All of us at the BSO share deep gratitude for Mark’s unceasing commitment to the organization as our leader for the past two decades," said Susan W. Paine, Chair, Board of Trustees. "We are thankful to Mark for his leadership, and his generous commitment to stay on for the next year and continue the BSO’s important work."

The news of Volpe’s departure coincides with the announcement of an additional set of leadership changes to take shape concurrently at the BSO.

The organization today announced the election of respected civic leader Barbara W. Hostetter as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees. Hostetter will begin a three-year term on March 1, 2021.

As Chair-Elect, Hostetter, who has served on the Board of Trustees since 2014, will lead the search for the institution’s next top executive. The search process will be inclusive and transparent, and will be initiated by discussions with members of the Board, the Music Director, orchestra, staff, and other stakeholders.

Additionally, the Board of Trustees elected three new members, effective March 1, 2020, reflecting greater diversity and further strengthening the organization’s leadership.

This organizational transition comes as the BSO and cultural institutions worldwide collectively respond to a shifting landscape, exploring new opportunities and avenues to engage with communities and audiences, locally, nationally, and beyond.

"With Barbara’s elevation to board chair next year, along with the addition of a new generation of board members, the BSO board has reached an exciting inflection point," said Paine. "The global arts community is entering a new decade, keenly aware of a future that promises significant change for every organization among us. The BSO is no exception. While we are supported by a strong institutional foundation, we remain deeply committed to extending our reach and relationships in an evolving context."

"I am honored that the board has entrusted me to take up the mantle beginning next year," said Hostetter. "Until then, I look forward to working with Andris, Mark, Susan, board leadership, our extraordinary musicians, staff and supporters in the weeks and months ahead and guiding a thoughtful, transparent, and inclusive search process. I join my colleagues in expressing admiration for Mark and thank him for his tireless service."

"I will forever be indebted to Mark for the opportunity to lead the musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and to join this remarkable organization for which he has done so much," said Andris Nelsons, Music Director, Boston Symphony Orchestra.

"For me, Mark quite simply personifies the truly special family spirit we are so privileged to enjoy at the BSO. His absolute unique combination of qualities—deep knowledge of the repertoire, passion for new ideas and initiatives, keen intelligence and insights into every aspect of the industry, strong relationships with the musicians, and tireless supportive presence—have continually played a major role in my feeling at home with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and in the wonderful city of Boston.

"We are truly thankful that Mark’s incomparable legacy of accomplishments for the Boston Symphony Orchestra will always be with us and his many achievements are sure to take their place in the ever-evolving, storied timeline of the BSO. I look forward to building on these together with everyone in our BSO Family—Susan, Barbara and the trustees, musicians, staff and supporters—to ensure we can all look forward to our next chapter with much excitement, as we strive to bring the sheer joy of music to everyone in Boston and at Tanglewood, as well as to all our supporters around the world."

Mark Volpe
Among his many accomplishments, Mark Volpe led the effort to appoint Andris Nelsons as the BSO’s 15th music director. The roster of other renowned artistic partners during Volpe’s tenure includes Keith Lockhart, Thomas Adès, James Burton, Thomas Wilkins, Seiji Ozawa, Bernard Haitink, and John Williams. He has forged strong connections with the musicians of the BSO, best exemplified by his successful negotiations of six labor agreements. As a steward of the organization’s finances, he oversees an annual budget of $107 million, tripled the endowment (the largest of any American orchestra, currently valued at $456 million), raised more than $760 million, and secured more than 40 corporate sponsorships, valued at nearly $100 million. Mr. Volpe also oversees www.bso.org, attracting 3.4 million visits annually and generating over $233 million in revenue since 1996.

Volpe spearheaded the development and 2019 opening of Tanglewood’s four-building Linde Center for Music and Learning, with one of the buildings named in his honor, in addition to the introduction of the innovative multi-dimensional Tanglewood Learning Institute, expanding the organization’s footprint and capability to educate and engage audiences year-round.

In partnership with Nelsons, Volpe and the BSO established an unprecedented artistic partnership with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, in the form of a five-year, multi-layered collaboration between the two premier cultural institutions. Further adding to the reach of the Orchestra, Volpe oversaw 14 national and international BSO tours, as well as 40 Boston Pops tours under Keith Lockhart.

Volpe’s tenure has also brought an expansion of recording activities on multiple platforms, including the founding of the BSO’s own label, BSO Classics. In all, 50 recordings featuring the BSO, Boston Pops, Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and Boston Symphony Chamber Players were released on multiple major labels, garnering six Grammys, four for the BSO’s Shostakovich cycle under Andris Nelsons.

Mark Volpe was the first-ever orchestra CEO elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2017). He holds four honorary doctorates and will receive France’s Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Click here for further details of Mark Volpe’s career as leader of the BSO.

Barbara W. Hostetter
A long-time advocate for the arts and education, Hostetter is the co-founder and chair of the Board of Trustees of the Barr Foundation, and served as the Foundation’s president from its inception in 1999 through 2014.

Hostetter is also a life trustee of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, where she served as president of the board for 10 years. During that time, she co-chaired a major capital campaign that grew the Museum’s endowment and financed its preservation and expansion project. She was actively involved in the creation of the new wing that opened in 2012, designed by Renzo Piano. She also chaired the Museum’s search committee for its fifth director in 2015.

Hostetter serves on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and as a member of the Arts Advisory Council for the Boston Public Schools and the Council of Advisors for Historic Boston, Inc. Her past service includes the boards of the New England Aquarium, Friends of the Public Garden, Milton Academy, and the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children.