Gary Ginstling has unexpectedly stepped down as the chief executive officer of the New York Philharmonic after just one year in the position. The reason behind his departure remains undisclosed, with the announcement coinciding with Jaap van Zweden’s final performances as music director in Vail, Colorado from July 17-20. Ginstling departed the orchestra after an extensive tour of China that ended on July 4. In a statement released by the orchestra, Ginstling mentioned that “It has become clear to me that the institution needs a different type of leadership.”
The New York Philharmonic is set to embark on a two-year period without a music director until Gustavo Dudamel assumes the role in the 2026-27 season. In the interim, Deborah Borda, Ginstling’s predecessor, will oversee the transition alongside board co-chairs Peter W. May and Oscar L. Tang. The orchestra’s contract with local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians is set to expire on September 20.
Ginstling, who previously served as executive director of Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra, took on the role of executive director of the New York Philharmonic in November 2022, succeeding Borda on July 1, 2023. Under Ginstling’s leadership, the orchestra announced a $40 million donation from Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang in September 2023. Additionally, the orchestra saw a paid capacity of 85% for concerts last season, with ticket revenue increasing by 6% from 2022-23.
Earlier in April, Ginstling initiated an investigation into the philharmonic’s culture, appointing Katya Jestin, co-managing partner of the law firm Jenner & Block, following allegations of misconduct detailed in a New York Magazine article about two musicians in 2010. These musicians, who denied any misconduct, were terminated in 2018 but reinstated in 2020 by arbitrator Richard I. Bloch; they have not been involved in any orchestra activities since April. Borda, who played a pivotal role in securing Dudamel as the new music director and fundraising for the renovation of David Geffen Hall, is currently serving as an executive adviser to Ginstling and the board.
