After 27 years in front of the Virginia Symphony, music director JoAnn Falletta figures she has got a few more years in her — two, to be exact.
Falletta, 64, announced Tuesday that she will conclude her tenure with the Virginia Symphony in June 2020.
In the news release announcing her decision, Falletta said: “As I reflect on all that the musicians and I have been able to accomplish together, I’ve never been prouder or more excited for the future of this unique orchestra. Now as the VSO approaches its 100th anniversary, a remarkable achievement for any performing group, I’m enormously grateful for the innumerable friendships I have made here, and the love and support the community has shown toward me and our musicians.”
Falletta, who took the baton in Norfolk in 1991, plans to lead the symphony through its centennial in 2020.
Patrick McDermott, chairman of the symphony’s board of directors, said the orchestra would find ways to celebrate Falletta’s legacy over the next two years. He said a search committee will be formed to select her successor, though no timetable has been announced.
Falletta also serves as music director for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. A spokeswoman for that orchestra said no announcement has been made regarding Falletta’s future plans in Buffalo.
During her tenure, the Virginia Symphony has played high-profile shows at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington. The orchestra has released 18 recordings under her guidance.
In the news release, Karen Philion, president and CEO of the Virginia Symphony, said: “JoAnn has set us up beautifully to begin our second century. Thanks to her visionary leadership we are in a terrific place as an organization and poised to capitalize on all she and the musicians have accomplished as we look forward to the next exciting chapter. JoAnn’s legacy will serve as a wonderful foundation on which we will continue to build.”
Holtzclaw can be reached by phone at 757-928-6479 or on Twitter @mikeholtzclaw.
