‘Tis the season for change apparently. Alan Fletcher, president and CEO of the acclaimed Aspen Music Festival and School, has announced his intention to resign at the end of the month. After only three summers, the decision has surprised patrons and teachers alike.

Speculation is that heated politics towards the end of the 2009 summer were a catalyst for the move. Similar action was taken by former president and CEO of Aspen, Don Roth, who resigned in 2005 after idiosyncratic attacks on his personal life.

Disparagement of Fletcher began when he announced cutbacks in the budget for 2010. Several faculty members got a pink slip, the concert calendar lost a week, and the maximum student enrollment dropped from 750 to 625.

Fletcher’s resume sports a long list of impressive positions, such as Provost and Senior Vice President at the New England Conservatory, and Head of Music at Carnegie Mellon University. So we doubt he will be disappearing from the classical scene any time soon. We wish you luck Mr. Fletcher.

Aspen Music Festival CEO steps down

Posted on October 27th, 2009 at 12:58 pm | Filed under General |