CEO and President New York Philharmonic Orchestra He suddenly resigned just a year after taking the post following an independent investigation into the orchestra’s workplace culture.
The New York Philharmonic’s board of directors has accepted Gary Ginstling’s resignation, effective immediately, co-chairs Peter W. May and Oscar L. Tang announced in a statement to The Washington Post on Thursday afternoon.
“The New York Philharmonic is a wonderful institution and it has been an honor to be a part of it, but it is clear that the institution needs a different type of leadership, and I have offered to resign,” Ginstling said in a written statement.
“I wish the new Musical and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, the musicians, board, staff and everyone associated with the organization all the best for the future.”
The Post has reached out to Ginstling and the New York Philharmonic for comment.
Ginstling’s resignation Sexual assault scandal involving two players It shook the Philharmonic.
The orchestra’s associate principal trumpeter Matthew McKee and principal oboist Liang Wang were fired from the orchestra for sexual misconduct and then allowed back in, but were fired a second time following an allegation of rape 14 years ago, which both men deny.
Ginstling will become the Philharmonic’s president and CEO in July 2023, after previously serving as the orchestra’s executive director for eight months.
“The Board is deeply grateful for the dedication and work that Gary has contributed to the New York Philharmonic and wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” the board added.
The Philharmonic said it would assemble a “transition leadership team” that would include the chairs of its board of directors and Deborah Borda. Previously held that position From 2017 to last year.
McKee and Wang are suing the Philharmonic Orchestra and Musicians Union Local 802 after being expelled for the second time in four years.
They were investigated and lost their jobs during the Me Too movement in 2018, but regained their positions with the orchestra in 2020 after their union accepted their complaint and they won binding arbitration.
In April, the alleged victim spoke out about the incident to New York Magazine, angering other performers, some of whom refused to play with the pair.
In response, Ginstling suspended Mackey and Wang with pay and announced a new investigation by outside counsel into the orchestra’s “culture.”
The article alleges that former Philharmonic horn player Carla Kaiser, 44, alleged that McKee and Wang drugged and raped her in a rented apartment in Vail, Colorado, during the 2010 Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival.
Both McKee, 39, and Wang, 44, denied the allegations. McKee told Vail police that she and Kaiser had consensual sex. The local district attorney dismissed the charges for lack of evidence.
According to the lawsuit, filed in May in federal court for the Southern District of New York, McKee and Wang subsequently sued for breach of contract and sought reinstatement along with unspecified damages.
Ginstling’s resignation also comes as the orchestra’s musicians and management continue to engage in intense negotiations over a new labor contract.
The players We demand a significant wage increase. Their current contracts expire in September.
