The Los Angeles Philharmonic has appointed Kim Noltemy as its new president and chief executive officer. Mr. Noltemy will assume the role on July 8, leaving the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, where he has served as president and CEO since 2018. He takes over from interim CEO Daniel Song after LA Phil Principal Chad Smith left camp for the Boston Symphony Orchestra last fall.
Nortemy's appointment comes at a critical time for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which must find someone to take over the reins as music director and artistic director when Gustavo Dudamel leaves the organization for the New York Philharmonic in 2026. . Mr. Dudamel was a giant in the world of classical music, and so was his death. It will likely ripple throughout the organization, and a steady hand will be needed to right the ship and guide it to perhaps the most admired orchestra in the country to date.
For the record:
May 1, 2024 2:04 p.m.A previous version of this article incorrectly reported Kim Noltemy's joining date. She will assume her new role on July 8th.
Ms. Nortemy told the Times that she was excited to work with Dudamel for his remaining years with the orchestra and to lead the search for a new music director.
“I am so excited given how exciting it will be to develop this new vision with my music director, board and team,” she said.
Nortemy said he had not yet been briefed on the search for Dudamel's replacement, but that it was likely still at a “relatively early stage.” She said she has a “huge amount of ideas and vision,” “understands what it's like to be in an urban environment” like Los Angeles, and the need to serve a large and diverse audience. We are looking for talented people. Young people who are interested in and invested in classical music.
“The LA Phil deserves an incredible musical genius,” she said.
Nortemy wants to help the LA Philharmonic build on its current achievements and history of innovation to reach even greater heights. “There are many ways to make music an integral part of people's lives,” she said. “And I say this institution can do things and dream and make it all come true…and this is going to be the next chapter.”
The LA Phil is one of the few arts organizations in the city to emerge relatively unscathed from the disruption and damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was not without significant damage, with an estimated $100 million in lost revenue at one point. But the orchestra's president told the Times that it expects to end the year with record sales and $160 million in revenue by 2023.
Like Smith with the LA Philharmonic, Nortemy guided the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the pandemic. During her tenure with the organization, she has been credited with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that have expanded programming and increased opportunities for BIPOC artists and staff. Prior to her time in Dallas, Nortemy spent more than 20 years with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where she ultimately served as chief operating officer and communications officer.
“We look forward to welcoming Kim to the LA Phil family. Our extraordinary musicians and organization continue to grow in the world of what an orchestra is and the impact it can have on the community around it. We have presented a powerful new vision to the world, and I am confident that we will continue to strive for even greater heights in the coming years,” Dudamel said in a news release.