Music Executive Moves

Gary Ginstling, who left the NY Phil last year, has been appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officr the Houston Symphony, effective February 3, 2025.

From the press release:

Houston Symphony Board President Barbara J. Burger, on behalf of the Board and Music Director Juraj Valčuha, announced today the appointment of 25-year veteran orchestra leader Gary Ginstling to the position of Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Symphony. In this position, Ginstling will hold the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair and will begin his new post on February 3, 2025. Ginstling succeeds John Mangum, who stepped down from this role at the end of September 2024 to lead the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Ginstling has held several leadership roles at major American orchestras. Most recently, he spent two years at the New York Philharmonic, serving in the roles of executive director and, until July 2024, as president and CEO. Previously, Ginstling served as executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in Washington, DC, from 2017 to 2022, and as CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) from 2013 to 2017. His prior orchestra leadership positions include general manager of The Cleveland Orchestra; director of communications and external affairs of the San Francisco Symphony; and executive director of the Berkeley Symphony.  

Recently appointed:

• Matias Tarnopolsky to the NY Philharmonic, commencing January 1, 2025
• Kim Notelmy to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, commencing July 8, 2024
• Brent Assink to acting CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra, August, 2024
• John Mangum to CEO of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, commencing fall, 2024, leaving the job at Houston open
• Michelle Miller Burns to the Dallas Symphony, leaving the Minnesota job

Open positions:

• Minnesota Orchestra, following Michelle Miller Burns's move to Dallas
• Philadelphia Orchestra, with Matias Tarnopolsky's appointment to the NY Philharmonic
• Dallas Symphony, with Kim Notelmy's appointment to the LA Phil
• Cincinnati Symphony, following the retirement of Jonathan Martin in February, 2025
• St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, after Jon Limbacher retires next year
• New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, after Gabriel van Aalst left for a different job