Classical Music News

President of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra to Retire in 2025

November 13, 2024

2 MIN READ

SPCO players tabled a vote of no confidence in Jon Limbacher earlier in 2024

Jon Limbacher, who has been President and Managing Director of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) since 2016, has announced that he will retire at the end of 2025, when his current five-year contract finishes. Having also served as the SPCO's Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2012, he has spent more than 20 years in senior leadership roles there.

In May of 2024, the 28 players of the SPCO tabled a vote of no confidence in Limbacher, after the ensemble's then-Artistic Director Kyu-Young Kim resigned in protest at decisions taken by management. The primary issue at hand was Limbacher's decision to reduce the number of playing weeks from 35 to 19.

Limbacher told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the vote of no confidence had not affected his decision to retire and that when he first took on the role in 2016, he had estimated that ten years would about be the right amount of time. He is currently 62 years old.

The orchestra's management praised Limbacher for his handling of finances throughout his tenure. In 2017, Limbacher created a Rainy Day Fund, which allowed the SPCO to continue compensating its musicians well throughout the pandemic. In addition, he launched a free online concert streaming library, which houses recordings of more than 100 performances.

"I do really strongly believe that you have to balance an organization’s leadership stability with periodic change," said Limbacher. "I’ve been here in a leadership role for over 20 years. There’s a point where the organization needs new ideas and new perspectives."

"This seems like a pretty natural time to bring about that kind of transition."

"On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, I thank Jon Limbacher for his dedicated service to the well-being of the SPCO and the individuals working and volunteering there," said Deborah Palmer, Chair of the SPCO Board of Directors. "It was Jon’s hard work and planning that brought the SPCO through the pandemic in better financial shape than most orchestras in the country and has put us in a strong position to deal with the hard issues now facing the arts community."

"Jon’s effective leadership and championing of our vision for a great orchestra for everyone in the community has contributed to the orchestra’s exceptionally high artistic quality. He has been a steady hand at the helm of the organization for nine years and will continue to be so as we select a new president to lead us."