The Los Angeles Philharmonic's history of original programming and strong finances have made it the envy of orchestras across the country.
However, recently the ensemble has been going through a period of rapid change. Chad Smith, the ensemble's former president and chief executive officer, resigned last year to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Renowned music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel will leave for the New York Philharmonic in 2026.
But on Wednesday the orchestra said it had found a leader who could help get it back on track. Veteran administrator Kim Noltemy will become the next president and CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic starting in July.
Noltemi, 55, who has led the Dallas Symphony Orchestra since 2018, said he wants to build on the Philharmonic's legacy of innovation.
“The potential for the Los Angeles Philharmonic to grow and prosper and have a major impact in changing the way people think about music and the impact it has on their lives is enormous,” she said in an interview.
Thomas L. Beckmen, chairman of the Philharmonic's board of directors, said Noltemi was at the top of the shortlist because of his experience. Prior to Dallas, he held leadership positions with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“Of all the people we interviewed, she was the most prepared,” Beckmen said in an interview. “Sometimes I thought she knew more about us than I knew about us.”
Noltemy will face several immediate challenges, including helping to find a successor to Dudamel, one of the world's most in-demand virtuosos, who has led the ensemble since 2009 and has been a key driver of its box office success and extensive music education programs. It will. .
Beckmen said the search could take “two years or more,” but he was confident the orchestra would be able to find talent like Dudamel.
“Dudamel is great, and so is the orchestra here in LA. It’s not the best, but it’s definitely at the forefront of its field,” he said. “It doesn’t go away.”
When asked if the ensemble would be interested in appointing a woman, Beckmen declined to comment. (Women are significantly underrepresented among music directors of top orchestras across the United States.)
Noltemi said “all talented conductors” would be considered, regardless of gender or race. “This orchestra is really focused on the idea that the LA Phil should represent the community, and that community is incredibly diverse,” she added.
“We welcome Kim to our LA Phil family,” Dudamel said in a statement Wednesday.
“Our extraordinary musicians and organization have shown the world a powerful new vision of what an orchestra can be and how it can impact the communities around it,” he said. “I am confident that we will continue to push ourselves to greater heights in the future.”
In Dallas, Noltemy developed a reputation as a community-focused leader. She has worked to increase civic pride in her ensemble, including expanding her music education program and staging more small performances outside the concert hall.
During her tenure, the orchestra hired more women and people of color as conductors, composers, and guest performers. Administrative staff has also become more diverse. Women make up the majority of senior leadership teams.
In Los Angeles, Noltemy said he will work to expand the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, known as YOLA, which Dudamel helped start and is modeled after El Sistema, a social and artistic movement in Venezuela. She is also keen for the Philharmonic to play a key role when the 2028 Summer Olympics are held in Los Angeles.
The Philharmonic is in a relatively strong position compared to other American orchestras. Despite a drop in subscribers from 8,791 to 6,409 as of March, average attendance is back to pre-pandemic levels, at about 89%.
Noltemy follows a groundbreaking CEO. Ernest Fleischmann, who led the orchestra from 1969 to 1998, revitalized the lucrative summer program at the Hollywood Bowl, fought to build Disney Hall, and hired the young Esa-Pekka Salonen as music director. Deborah Borda, who led the orchestra from 2000 to 2017, built on this success by opening the hall, hiring Dudamel, strengthening ties with the city and championing new music. Smith, a disciple of Borda, helped spearhead the orchestra's unconventional approach to programming.
Beckmen said Noltemy hopes to provide service for 10 years or more. She wants to stay until her retirement.
“The Los Angeles Philharmonic has been the most amazing and exciting venue for a long time,” she said. “I consider this the pinnacle of my career.”