WASO loses artistic planning chief
The WA Symphony Orchestra is losing its dynamic head of artistic planning Marshall McGuire, who is returning to Melbourne to take up a similar role with Orchestra Victoria.
WASO chief executive Craig Whitehead said McGuire had been a huge asset to WASO over nearly five years and had worked closely with principal conductor Paul Daniel to take the audience in new directions with many world premieres, a young artists' program and building audiences through innovations like webcasts, podcasts and artist talks.
McGuire leaves the State's biggest arts organisation in good health, with the latest annual report for 2010 revealing a $280,811 profit and maintaining strong sponsorship support through the aftershocks of the global downturn. More than 200,000 people saw the orchestra live with thousands more picking up the performances online.
Daniel said McGuire would be hugely missed and he wished him great success with Orchestra Victoria. "I have been the most fortunate principal conductor to have had Marshall by my side,” Daniel said.
McGuire, who will depart in early July, said it had been a privilege to work with WASO and he left with sadness but looked forward to the opportunities in his new position.
A renowned international harpist as well as artistic administrator, the Melbourne-born McGuire also is curator of the Utzon Music Series at the Sydney Opera House, and artistic director of the baroque group Ludovico’s Band. His performances this year include at WOMADelaide, the Australian String Quartet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Bangalow Festival.
A graduate of the Victorian College o of the Arts, Paris Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music, London, he has released seven solo CDs and received three ARIA award nominations.
The international search for a new WASO executive manager of artistic planning will begin shortly.
