There will be a new face at the helm of Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra when the indoor season begins on Oct. 11.
The change isn't happening on the podium, though. In addition to renewing music director Andrew Sewell's contract for five years, the orchestra has hired Mark Cantrell as its new executive director. The board of directors announced the news on Monday.
Cantrell comes to Madison from the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, where he served as executive director for three years. A bass trombonist, he has also performed with the Boston Pops, Boston Ballet and Boston Lyric Opera. He begins his WCO duties on Sept. 1, which gives him about six weeks to prepare for the start of the indoor season.
Sewell anticipates a "vibrant artistic partnership" with Cantrell. This relationship is crucial, as the music director and executive director collaborate on programming decisions.
Since assuming his post 13 years ago, Sewell has bolstered WCO's national reputation. Outgoing executive director Doug Gerhart says Sewell has "an uncanny ability" for pairing beloved masterworks with exciting contemporary material.