Vancouver Symphony Orchestra announces new CEO

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has announced its new president and chief executive officer.

American economist, pianist and conductor Keith Cerny has been appointed to the top position of the Grammy-winning orchestra and VSO School of Music. He succeeds Angela Elster, who is retiring following a tenure that began in 2019.

“The decision to step down, while difficult, was made strategically to bring in new leadership dedicated to achieving the next level of artistic and operational excellence,” Elster said in a news release.

Chosen for the position following an international search of more than 110 candidates, Cerny is set to assume the new role on Jan. 11.

“Keith Cerny brings to this role a rare and compelling combination: the analytical rigour of an economist, the artistic passion of a performing pianist, and 30 years of hands-on experience building cultural institutions,” said VSO Society’s board of directors chair, David Garofalo, in the release. “His record speaks for itself — landmark programming, genuine innovation in equity and access, and the kind of leadership that earns trust from musicians, patrons, and communities alike.”

Cerny holds a PhD in econometrics, an MBA from Harvard’s business school, and a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of California at Berkeley. He trained as a pianist and conductor at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the English National Opera.

He most recently held the post of president and CEO of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in Texas since 2019, where he recruited one of the most prominent female conductors in the world, Dame Jane Glover, as the principal guest conductor.

Other past positions include time as general director and CEO of both the Calgary and Dallas operas, and the founder of the Hart Institute for Women Conductors.

Cerny says he was drawn to the VSO due to its reputation as a world-class orchestra and thriving school in a “vibrant international city.”

Elster will remain in her role through the transition.

sderdeyn@postmedia.com