January 11, 2008

CSO President Steven Monder to Retire in June 2008

Cincinnati —Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra President Steven Monder announced today that he is retiring after 37 years at the orchestra, effective June 30, 2008. Mr. Monder, who will be 63 upon retirement, will continue as a valued advisor to the CSO, assisting in the transition to a new president.

“It seems like yesterday that I joined the CSO as a 26-year-old Production Manager,” said CSO President Steven Monder. “Then, seemingly overnight, 37 years passed, and instead of being heavily recruited by other orchestras, I am being heavily recruited by AARP. I began to consider my retirement plans several years ago, and age 63 kept surfacing as a good time for both the CSO and for me. It is clear from this side of those 37 years with the CSO that I have been a very fortunate man. The music making is phenomenal. But the CSO is more than a world-class orchestra. The CSO musicians and staff are a group of dedicated, caring and immensely talented world-class people. I thank them all, I thank the Cincinnati community that has supported them, and I hope my role with them has contributed to their success.”

“Steven has been the heart, soul and brain of the CSO for 37 years,” said CSO Board Chairman Marvin Quin. “His impressive list of accomplishments includes developing Riverbend and the new National City Pavilion, touring the orchestra around the world, negotiating recording contracts and much more. Steven has shown outstanding service to this organization.”

The CSO Board of Directors will conduct a thorough search to replace Mr. Monder. The Search Committee charged with selecting a new CSO president will be headed by CSO Board member John Palmer, who will assemble a team to define and establish selection criteria and oversee the selection process.

Key Accomplishments of Steven Monder’s Tenure

• Recordings: The CSO launched a successful collaboration with Telarc International. Since then, Telarc has released more than 100 recordings of the CSO and Pops and sold nearly 10 million copies. Today, the orchestra remains one of few U.S. orchestras with a recording contract.
• Cincinnati Pops: Mr. Monder was instrumental in the establishment of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in 1977 with Erich Kunzel as conductor. The Cincinnati Pops continues to be one of the world’s most active classical pops ensembles.
• Music Hall: Mr. Monder has worked in collaboration with the constituents of Music Hall to assess the needs of the hall.
• Riverbend: Under Steven Monder’s leadership, the CSO built and opened Riverbend Music Center on the banks of the Ohio River in 1984. A new 4,100-seat National City Pavilion is scheduled to open later this summer making Riverbend Music Center one of the only facilities in the nation to feature both a large amphitheater and a more intimate pavilion.
• May Festival: In addition to his position as president of the CSO, Steven Monder has been Executive Director since 1976 of The Cincinnati Musical Festival Association, which produces the May Festival.
• Broadcast: During Mr. Monder’s tenure, the orchestra has reached millions of new audiences through its nine national television broadcasts.
• Bravo Paavo: Mr. Monder was instrumental in successfully engaging Maestro Paavo Järvi, as well as Maestros Michael Gielen and Jesús López-Cobos. During his tenure with the orchestra, Mr. Monder has worked with four CSO music directors.  (There have been only 12 in the orchestra’s 113-year history). Järvi recently extended his CSO contract through 2011, with evergreen renewals.

“We have been able to achieve a fantastic level of artistry at this orchestra and Steven Monder has been the driving force behind that,” said CSO Music Director Paavo Järvi. “And to me, he has been more than a colleague; he has been a true friend.”

“I first met Steven when he was my student at CCM,” said Cincinnati Pops Conductor Erich Kunzel. “Even though he did take my conducting class, he ended up conducting the orchestra in a different manner — as president. And it is under his direction that I have been able to pursue my goals and ambitions for this orchestra. We’ve been quite a team!”

“Thirty-seven years at the CSO! What a blessing for an orchestra in a time of short tenures in management elsewhere,” said former CSO Music Director Jesús López-Cobos. “Cincinnati is in debt to Steven Monder for being 100 percent dedicated to his job.”

“Steven is a legend in the industry,” said Quin. “He has been the longest tenured president of any major U.S. orchestra and has left an indelible mark on this great Cincinnati institution. On behalf of the CSO Board of Directors, we congratulate him on his exceptional career and wish him the best of fortune in his retirement years.”