Simon Woods joins Seattle Symphony Orchestra (SSO) from May next year.

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) today announces that Simon Woods will depart as Chief Executive in the spring of 2011, following his appointment as Executive Director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra (SSO).  Simon will assume his new role in May next year.

Simon Woods’ tenure is rightly considered a hugely successful time in the organisation’s 120-year history.  Simon joined as Chief Executive in 2005, the same year as Music Director Stéphane Denève, forging an outstandingly fruitful partnership which has helped the Orchestra achieve great critical success for its live performances as well as its many recordings.  Over the past five years average audiences have grown by a third and subscription levels are at their highest level for a generation.

Over the past five years the RSNO has pioneered new concert presentations (Naked Classics, Springtime in Paris, Orchestra+, Chamber Music Series), attracted wider audiences through a simplified, affordable subscription system, and dramatically increased access for young people including market-leading initiatives such as Standard Life Passport to Music, offering free tickets to under 16s. Meanwhile the Orchestra’s reach into the community has expanded considerably with the perennially successful Out and About residential weeks, and an expanding community programme which takes RSNO musicians into communities across Scotland, encouraging community members back into Scotland’s concert venues for the Orchestra’s Naked Classics presentations.

These achievements have been made possible through increased support from the Scottish Government, and, crucially, an increasing number of private supporters.  In a challenging climate the RSNO has both sustained and grown vital relationships with the corporate community, trusts, foundations and individuals, introducing many new donors to the orchestra and garnering an impressive level of recognition from Arts and Business Scotland.

Since 2005 a number of major appointments to the Orchestra have been made, including those of Principal Trombone Dávur Juul Magnussen, Principal Tuba John Whitener, Principal Cor Anglais Zoe Kitson and Principal Oboe Emmanuel Laville. Woods also oversaw the creation of a new post – Principal Guest Leader – bringing the experienced violinist James Clark into the RSNO family.

Increasing the RSNO’s international exposure has been a key priority for Woods. Over the past five years the RSNO and Denève have enjoyed four foreign sorties: two full European tours, a Spanish tour and an invitation to the Festival Présences at the Maison de Radio France in Paris in 2006. The Orchestra performed at some of Europe’s most important concert venues this year, including a concert at the world famous Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in front a sell-out audience including Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, MP, MSP.

Announcing his departure RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods said:

“It has been an extremely difficult decision to leave the RSNO. In more than five years here I have developed enormous affection for this great organisation, for its people, and for Scotland as a place. It will be very hard indeed to leave. It has been a huge privilege to be involved with the RSNO through this period in which it has enjoyed so much success under Stéphane Denève’s musical leadership, but I know that the superb musicians of the RSNO and its enormously talented staff team will ensure that the organisation goes from strength to strength long after my departure.

RSNO Chair Brian Lang: 
”Simon Woods has been a first rate Chief Executive for the RSNO. He has played a highly influential role in helping the Orchestra to its present position of international esteem. It has been a great pleasure to have worked with Simon and I wish him well in his new position in Seattle. Scotland can be proud that the creative and artistic talent it nurtures is so clearly valued on the international musical stage.”

The next two years will reveal some of the most ambitious programming in the Orchestra’s recent history.  This Season the RSNO presents key works of the 21st century with contemporary music series TEN OUT OF 10.  A major celebration of the works of Claude Debussy for Stéphane Denève’s final Season as Music Director in 2011-12 will mark the 150th anniversary of the French composer’s birth.

The recruitment process is underway to find Simon Woods’ successor.

Source: Royal Scottish National Orchestra