Orchestras of Pasadena names CEO
The financially strapped Orchestras of Pasadena -- created last year from a merger of Pasadena Symphony and Pasadena Pops -- has named Paul Jan Zdunek to the position of chief executive.
Zdunek, a veteran arts manager, is president and CEO of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Assn. and is credited with leading that organization, as well as the city’s State Theatre, out of financial difficulties. He also trained as a conductor.
Zdunek’s appointment, announced Friday by Orchestras of Pasadena, grew out of a crisis-management relationship with the organization, said board member Jean Horton, who has served for the last few weeks as acting chief executive.
Zdunek, he said, had been brought in as a consultant to aid in finding solutions to the budget crunch that has led to the recent layoffs of top executives, the cancellation of two concerts and a public appeal to raise funds to save the rest of season’s scheduled concerts.
“We are definitely excited about having him down here,” Horton said of Zdunek. “We think he brings a strong executive presence to the organization and will be extremely helpful in expanding our community base of operations.”
Does that mean fundraising? Yes, Horton said -- but of equal importance, damage control. “We have scared a lot of people by canceling those concerts,” he said. “Our goal right now is to reassure people.”
--
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
