Minnesota Orchestra President and CEO Switches Gears to Direct Top Music School
Woodcock, Known as Orchestra Doctor, to Take Office June 4
Anthony ("Tony") Woodcock, the British-born President and CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra, will be appointed President of New England Conservatory after an extensive search. The announcement was made yesterday by NEC Chairman of the Board Jack Vernon, who also chaired the search committee. Woodcock will assume his new duties June 4, taking over from Interim CEO and President Emeritus Laurence Lesser and succeeding the late President Daniel Steiner, who died in June 2006.
“The Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Trustees believe we have found in Tony Woodcock the ideal blend of qualifications and experience to lead the Conservatory with skill and panache," said Vernon in making the announcement. “Tony combines a passion for music, the executive expertise to manage a complex organization, a gift for fundraising, and a personal commitment to education."
“I'm thrilled and honored to have New England Conservatory entrust to me the leadership of an institution that is so important to the training of our most outstanding young musicians," Woodcock said. “This opportunity fulfills a longtime desire of mine to become more deeply engaged in helping musicians chart their course in a changing world. “
Woodcock, 55, trained as a violinist but has made his career as an orchestra administrator. He has held posts both in the UK and the United States, serving as President of the Oregon Symphony before taking the top job in Minnesota in 2003. Throughout his career, he has displayed a deep commitment to music education and during his tenure in Minnesota lead the orchestra to win back-to-back ASCAP Leonard Bernstein Awards for Excellence in Educational Programming (2005 and 2006). Woodcock was also responsible for raising significant funds from a local corporation so the orchestra's popular family series could become admission free. With the Oregon Symphony, he oversaw the creation of a new education department as part of the strategic plan as well as the promotion of many new educational programs and partnerships across the state.
A savvy financial manager, skilled fundraiser and innovative marketer, Woodcock is widely admired as something of an orchestra doctor. He has successfully stanched orchestral red ink, created and implemented strategic plans, engaged corporate and private donors, and built audiences. While at Minnesota, he created a financial restructuring plan to reduce the $4.5 million deficit, succeeding in reducing debt by $1.1 million his first year. He also personally secured the lead gift in the current capital campaign. Working closely with Music Director Osmo Vanska and a new marketing team, he has been successful in increasing concert attendance from 58% in 2002-03 to 72% in 2005-06. In one strategy aimed at boosting the orchestra's visibility and accessibility, he wrapped the glass walls of Orchestra Hall with a larger-than-life photo montage of exuberant music director and players.
Woodcock is also known as an executive who can rally fractious and disparate troops, creating harmonious working relationships with all constituencies. At both the Oregon and Minnesota Orchestras, he united musicians behind the goal of institutional artistic and financial health, conducting remarkably peaceful contract negotiations in a win-win spirit. He also brought together a divided board at the former orchestra, guiding the group to embrace a change of artistic leadership.
Summarizing these personal qualities, Vernon said: “Tony operates from a deep love and understanding of music, a realistic grasp of financial exigencies, and highly developed people skills that include charm, wit, modesty, and openness to others' ideas."
Vernon's comments were echoed by Peter Nicholas, Chairman of the Board of Boston Scientific, and his wife Ginny, who are co-chairs of the NEC capital campaign, The Gift of Music: “Tony Woodcock offers a perfect amalgam of the musical idealism necessary to the educational mission and the executive experience necessary to make a business succeed."
Taking on the NEC Presidency, Woodcock will face numerous challenges: to complete the current $100 million capital campaign (it now stands at over $80 million) and assess future financial needs; to complete the design and construction of a major campus renovation plan; to continue Daniel Steiner's work of attracting the finest artist-teachers and students; to compete with other music schools in awarding scholarship aid to students; and to build visibility for the Conservatory and increase audiences for its many concerts.
“As I approach taking on the leadership of New England Conservatory, I am immensely grateful for the work of my predecessor Daniel Steiner and the interim leadership provided by Laurence Lesser," said Woodcock. “They have passed on to me a school blessed with many strengths--a faculty with extraordinary master teachers, enormously gifted students, a successfully completed strategic plan, and a nearly completed capital campaign--all of which create a strong foundation for the future. I am eager to expand on these accomplishments. I would like to see NEC recognized all over the world for the artistry it nurtures, the kind of musical laying on of hands that happens in its studios, the anointing of the next generation of musicians that takes place there."
Anthony Woodcock Biography
Born in Cairo, Egypt where his father was stationed as a Major in the British Army, Woodcock spent part of his childhood in the Far East until his family moved to Cardiff, Wales when he was 11. Music was always an important part of his life and the family often listened to recordings from his father's large collection. He learned to play the violin as a child and studied with Alfredo Wang at University College in Cardiff. He also studied acoustics, music history, analysis, composition, harmony and Italian, graduating in 1974 with honors.
After leaving the university, Woodcock took a job as music officer with the Welsh Arts Council, the major agency promoting the arts in Wales. Among his duties was planning and promoting orchestral tours in Wales by internationally renowned ensembles such as the Dresden Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra and London Symphony. In 1977, Woodcock took a more senior job with South East Arts (SEA), an agency of England's national Arts Council that promotes the health and accessibility of the arts.
Woodcock's first job as head of an orchestra association came in 1984 when he became Executive Director of the City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox Singers. From there, he became general manager of Cardiff's St. David's Hall, the national concert hall with a budget of $10 million, a staff of 200 and a season series of 640 events.
There followed a stint as executive director with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society during which he played a significant role in planning the 150th anniversary and commissioning Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio. Following that, Woodcock was recruited to head the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as that orchestra celebrated its 100th anniversary.
In 1997, the Oregon Symphony approached him about taking over its troubled organization, which had suffered a disastrous musicians' strike some years before. Woodcock reestablished harmonious relations between board and players, successfully introduced interest-based bargaining techniques to negotiate two new musicians' contracts, developed a new five-year strategic plan, created and implemented the transition plan for the music director's retirement, and concluded a new music director search.
Woodcock joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 2003 and brought his many managerial strengths to bear on that orchestra. He created a new three-year strategic plan, successfully completed contract negotiations with the orchestra by convincing the musicians to be part of the institution's fiscal solution, and helped reunite a factionalized board.
Woodcock is married to soprano Virginia Harrison Woodcock. They have a son, Thomas, who is currently a student at the University of Montana Missoula.
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 750 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world. Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide. Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.
The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions. On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors. Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes--thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.
NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year, many of them in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 100-year old, beautifully restored concert hall. These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes. Every year, NEC's opera studies department also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.
NEC is co-founder and educational partner of “From the Top," a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by National Public Radio and is heard on 250 stations throughout the United States.
Woodcock, Known as Orchestra Doctor, to Take Office June 4
Anthony ("Tony") Woodcock, the British-born President and CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra, will be appointed President of New England Conservatory after an extensive search. The announcement was made yesterday by NEC Chairman of the Board Jack Vernon, who also chaired the search committee. Woodcock will assume his new duties June 4, taking over from Interim CEO and President Emeritus Laurence Lesser and succeeding the late President Daniel Steiner, who died in June 2006.
“The Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Trustees believe we have found in Tony Woodcock the ideal blend of qualifications and experience to lead the Conservatory with skill and panache," said Vernon in making the announcement. “Tony combines a passion for music, the executive expertise to manage a complex organization, a gift for fundraising, and a personal commitment to education."
“I'm thrilled and honored to have New England Conservatory entrust to me the leadership of an institution that is so important to the training of our most outstanding young musicians," Woodcock said. “This opportunity fulfills a longtime desire of mine to become more deeply engaged in helping musicians chart their course in a changing world. “
Woodcock, 55, trained as a violinist but has made his career as an orchestra administrator. He has held posts both in the UK and the United States, serving as President of the Oregon Symphony before taking the top job in Minnesota in 2003. Throughout his career, he has displayed a deep commitment to music education and during his tenure in Minnesota lead the orchestra to win back-to-back ASCAP Leonard Bernstein Awards for Excellence in Educational Programming (2005 and 2006). Woodcock was also responsible for raising significant funds from a local corporation so the orchestra's popular family series could become admission free. With the Oregon Symphony, he oversaw the creation of a new education department as part of the strategic plan as well as the promotion of many new educational programs and partnerships across the state.
A savvy financial manager, skilled fundraiser and innovative marketer, Woodcock is widely admired as something of an orchestra doctor. He has successfully stanched orchestral red ink, created and implemented strategic plans, engaged corporate and private donors, and built audiences. While at Minnesota, he created a financial restructuring plan to reduce the $4.5 million deficit, succeeding in reducing debt by $1.1 million his first year. He also personally secured the lead gift in the current capital campaign. Working closely with Music Director Osmo Vanska and a new marketing team, he has been successful in increasing concert attendance from 58% in 2002-03 to 72% in 2005-06. In one strategy aimed at boosting the orchestra's visibility and accessibility, he wrapped the glass walls of Orchestra Hall with a larger-than-life photo montage of exuberant music director and players.
Woodcock is also known as an executive who can rally fractious and disparate troops, creating harmonious working relationships with all constituencies. At both the Oregon and Minnesota Orchestras, he united musicians behind the goal of institutional artistic and financial health, conducting remarkably peaceful contract negotiations in a win-win spirit. He also brought together a divided board at the former orchestra, guiding the group to embrace a change of artistic leadership.
Summarizing these personal qualities, Vernon said: “Tony operates from a deep love and understanding of music, a realistic grasp of financial exigencies, and highly developed people skills that include charm, wit, modesty, and openness to others' ideas."
Vernon's comments were echoed by Peter Nicholas, Chairman of the Board of Boston Scientific, and his wife Ginny, who are co-chairs of the NEC capital campaign, The Gift of Music: “Tony Woodcock offers a perfect amalgam of the musical idealism necessary to the educational mission and the executive experience necessary to make a business succeed."
Taking on the NEC Presidency, Woodcock will face numerous challenges: to complete the current $100 million capital campaign (it now stands at over $80 million) and assess future financial needs; to complete the design and construction of a major campus renovation plan; to continue Daniel Steiner's work of attracting the finest artist-teachers and students; to compete with other music schools in awarding scholarship aid to students; and to build visibility for the Conservatory and increase audiences for its many concerts.
“As I approach taking on the leadership of New England Conservatory, I am immensely grateful for the work of my predecessor Daniel Steiner and the interim leadership provided by Laurence Lesser," said Woodcock. “They have passed on to me a school blessed with many strengths--a faculty with extraordinary master teachers, enormously gifted students, a successfully completed strategic plan, and a nearly completed capital campaign--all of which create a strong foundation for the future. I am eager to expand on these accomplishments. I would like to see NEC recognized all over the world for the artistry it nurtures, the kind of musical laying on of hands that happens in its studios, the anointing of the next generation of musicians that takes place there."
Anthony Woodcock Biography
Born in Cairo, Egypt where his father was stationed as a Major in the British Army, Woodcock spent part of his childhood in the Far East until his family moved to Cardiff, Wales when he was 11. Music was always an important part of his life and the family often listened to recordings from his father's large collection. He learned to play the violin as a child and studied with Alfredo Wang at University College in Cardiff. He also studied acoustics, music history, analysis, composition, harmony and Italian, graduating in 1974 with honors.
After leaving the university, Woodcock took a job as music officer with the Welsh Arts Council, the major agency promoting the arts in Wales. Among his duties was planning and promoting orchestral tours in Wales by internationally renowned ensembles such as the Dresden Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra and London Symphony. In 1977, Woodcock took a more senior job with South East Arts (SEA), an agency of England's national Arts Council that promotes the health and accessibility of the arts.
Woodcock's first job as head of an orchestra association came in 1984 when he became Executive Director of the City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox Singers. From there, he became general manager of Cardiff's St. David's Hall, the national concert hall with a budget of $10 million, a staff of 200 and a season series of 640 events.
There followed a stint as executive director with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society during which he played a significant role in planning the 150th anniversary and commissioning Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio. Following that, Woodcock was recruited to head the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as that orchestra celebrated its 100th anniversary.
In 1997, the Oregon Symphony approached him about taking over its troubled organization, which had suffered a disastrous musicians' strike some years before. Woodcock reestablished harmonious relations between board and players, successfully introduced interest-based bargaining techniques to negotiate two new musicians' contracts, developed a new five-year strategic plan, created and implemented the transition plan for the music director's retirement, and concluded a new music director search.
Woodcock joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 2003 and brought his many managerial strengths to bear on that orchestra. He created a new three-year strategic plan, successfully completed contract negotiations with the orchestra by convincing the musicians to be part of the institution's fiscal solution, and helped reunite a factionalized board.
Woodcock is married to soprano Virginia Harrison Woodcock. They have a son, Thomas, who is currently a student at the University of Montana Missoula.
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 750 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world. Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide. Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.
The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions. On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors. Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes--thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.
NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year, many of them in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 100-year old, beautifully restored concert hall. These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes. Every year, NEC's opera studies department also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.
NEC is co-founder and educational partner of “From the Top," a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by National Public Radio and is heard on 250 stations throughout the United States.
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