Music director, husband resign

GLENDALE — Diane Hedrick, executive director of the Glendale Symphony, has resigned, citing the need to move out of state with her husband, Steve, who leaves his position as the orchestra’s director of development.

“What happened is my husband has relocated,” she said. “He got a job.”

The Hedricks will move to Mobile, Ala., where Steve Hedrick has accepted a job as executive director and chief executive officer of the Mobile Symphony, Diane Hedrick said.

The departure of Diane and Steve Hedrick is the most recent of three staff losses for the symphony. Norman Henry Mamey chose to not renew his contract as music director in August.

He was replaced in August by Olivia Tsui, now the symphony’s conductor and music director.

Salary disagreements prompted Mamey to leave, but Glendale Symphony Assn. President Bill Holderness said both Diane and Steve Hedrick’s resignations were not over money.

“Her husband has been looking for jobs around the country for six months or so and we were aware that this could happen,” Holderness said. “So no, it doesn’t come as a surprise.”

Diane Hedrick said her husband was approached by the Mobile Symphony, which is in his home state.

The symphony board of directors has been meeting on how to staff the organization over the last month, Holderness said, but they have not yet begun taking applications for the open position.

Holderness announced the Hedricks departure on Saturday night at the Alex Theatre, where Tsui conducted the symphony’s first concert as conductor.

Diane Hedrick has lined up a list of specialists to take over her job in bits and pieces.

And two symphony board members will fill Steve Hedrick’s position, which included raising money for the symphony.

Jenine Baines of La Cañada Flintridge will become the temporary director of production, Jennifer Bentson-Gebel of Glendale will be director of operations and Helene Liatsos of Tarzana will take over the accounting manager position.

“I wore a lot of hats,” Hedrick said.

“And I was happy to do that, but it’s hard to find somebody who is willing to dive in and take on a lot of the varying responsibilities.”

So Baines, Bentson-Gebel, Liatsos and current orchestra manager Frank Capp, will be employed part-time as the orchestra seeks an new executive director.

“It’s like any other business change,” Holderness said.

“We just had to deal with the change in our music director and the board is just dealing with this. I wouldn’t say this is that unusual in business. We’ll handle it. And, of course, we’re going to miss Diane greatly.”

The Glendale Symphony has been struggling financially for years, with slumping ticket sales and lack of funding through the local government, Diane Hedrick said.

The Glendale Community Foundation’s $10,000 grant in July is the only large cash donation the orchestra has received this year.

The city of Glendale ceased contributions to the orchestra in 2002.

“We still need a lot of support from the community, obviously,” Holderness said.

“It’s very difficult financing symphonies these days, for everybody, not just for Glendale.”

Diane Hedrick is staying on as executive director consultant through the end of the year, at which time she will leave the orchestra for good on Jan. 1, Diane Hedrick said.

Holderness is scheduled to yield his position as Glendale Symphony Assn. president on Jan. 1 to Patrick Shahijanian, a member of the symphony board of directors for two years.

“I like to feel that I’m leaving with a lot of things on the horizon that are very exciting,” Diane Hedrick said.

“There’s a long way to go, but I think that I’m leaving it in better shape.”