Two big departures have hit Baltimore's classical music scene.
After five years, Stephen Jacobsohn is stepping down as president of the Shriver Hall Concert Series, which will mark its golden anniversary next season as a major presenter of classical soloists and ensembles.
He is relocating to New York "to be with my wife and our young son," Jacobsohn said in a statement. He will become director of development and marketing for the Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale.
In a statement to the board, chairman Geoffrey Greif said the concert series "has thrived" since Jacobsohn started in 2009. "His professionalism, vision, and knowledge of the music world have helped us to achieve our mission of presenting the best chamber music series for the money in America," Greif said. Jacobsohn noted that the series has had "five years of growing and balanced budgets."
Meanwhile, one of the most senior and valued Baltimore Symphony staffers and one of the most forward-thinking people in the orchestra business, vice president of marketing and communications Eileen Andrews, will be heading to Washington.
Andrews said that she will start next month in the top public relations post at the Kennedy Center, succeeding the unflappable John Dow, who stepped down at the end of last year. Andrews will be a key part of the administration of Deborah Rutter, the extraordinary former Chicago Symphony president who began her tenure as Kennedy Center president last September.
A press representative at the Kennedy Center said that an official announcement of Andrews' appointment and other new hires at the center will be released next week.