Executive director Neil Birnbaum to leave Northwest Sinfonietta

Neil Birnbaum, executive director of the Northwest Sinfonietta chamber orchestra, has announced that he will step down from his post on June 30.

Birnbaum had held the position for nine years, including managing the orchestra’s Cuban exchange in 2012-2013, and helping the orchestra transition last spring from a model led by co-founder and artistic director Christophe Chagnard to a partnership model with rotating conductors and more leadership from the musicians.

“After nine years, it’s time for the next guy,” said Birnbaum, who will continue to live in Tacoma and run Cuba Rhythm and Views, his growing business offering musical patron tours to Cuba. With that business, he said, he “can make as much money (as with the Sinfonietta) with a lot less pressure.”

“We’re going to miss him,” said Sinfonietta board member James Sorensen. “He’s done a great job for us and taken the orchestra many steps in the musical world, and we really appreciate it.”

The Sinfonietta board is beginning a national search process for a new executive director.

“We’re casting a wide net,” said Sorensen, adding that the new director needs to understand the orchestra’s new leadership model and be able to work with it. Meanwhile, the fact that musicians, board and community members are taking more artistic and organizational responsibility means an easier transition to a new director, Sorensen said.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 9:11 AM with the headline "Executive director Neil Birnbaum to leave Northwest Sinfonietta."