Gary Ginstling has been appointed as the new CEO of the Houston Symphony, marking his return to the orchestra management scene just six months after his unexpected exit from the New York Philharmonic, where he held the position for merely a year.
Ginstling is set to assume his role on February 3, stepping in for John Mangum, who had served as Houston’s CEO since 2018. Mangum departed in September to take up a new position as the general director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, succeeding Anthony Freud.
In comments regarding his new role, Ginstling expressed excitement about the Houston Symphony’s impressive reputation. “The Houston Symphony has a really strong track record and my goal is to continue to appeal to the greatest conductors and greatest artists of the day that Houston is a place that you want to be,” he stated.
Ginstling’s brief tenure in New York began on July 1, 2023, but he resigned just ten days later on July 11. Following his departure, Deborah Borda, his predecessor, continued to provide guidance as an executive advisor to both Ginstling and the board of directors.
While Ginstling has not publicly elaborated on the reasons for his quick exit, Houston Symphony board president Barbara J. Burger indicated that the cultural fit was challenging for him. “It wasn’t a good fit for him culturally. It wasn’t a good fit for him, from his style. He did a lot of good things there,” she remarked. “He started from day one with us, how important culture was, and I understand that completely. No one wants to work in an environment where they feel like they either can’t be successful, or they’re not trusted or they’ve got somebody looking over their shoulder.”
In the meantime, the New York Philharmonic has appointed Matías Tarnopolsky, previously the CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, to take over the position vacated by Ginstling, with his start date set for January 1. Tarnopolsky’s transition has been facilitated by his longtime association with Gustavo Dudamel, who is set to assume the role of music director for New York beginning in the 2026-27 season.
Ginstling has built a noteworthy career in orchestra management, having held positions with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and San Francisco Symphony before becoming the general manager for the Cleveland Orchestra from 2008 to 2013. He then served as the CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra from 2013 to 2017 and was the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra from 2017 to 2022.
In Houston, Juraj Val?uha has been leading as the music director since the 2022-23 season and will continue his engagement through 2025-26. The orchestra presents around 130 concerts each year, operates on a budget of $40.7 million, and is supported by a team of 90 full-time musicians along with 74 administrative personnel.
Jones Hall, the venue for the orchestra, has been undergoing renovations over a span of three summers, with the completion expected this year as it prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026.
