Boston — The Boston Symphony Orchestra announced today that Chad Smith will leave his position as chief executive of the Los Angeles Philharmonic to serve as the BSO’s new president and CEO, effective this year in early fall. The announcement came sooner than many had expected, former CEO Gail Samuel having resigned in December 2022, a year and half after joining the organization.
This appointment marks Smith’s return to Boston, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in vocal performance at the New England Conservatory.
For the past four years, Smith has been Chief Executive of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, collaborating closely with the orchestra’s Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. In Los Angeles, Smith helped establish some of the most influential orchestral programs of the 21st century, overseeing the institution’s financial growth while fostering diversity in its talent pool and expanding the organization’s reach to new audiences.
In his new role as the Julian and Eunice Cohen President and CEO of the BSO, Smith, in collaboration with Andris Nelsons and Keith Lockhart, will oversee the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and Tanglewood. His primary responsibility will be to boost the BSO’s global reputation for musical excellence and develop programming that promotes greater appreciation of the arts, fosters community engagement, and deepens the institution’s civic connections.
John Loder, chair of the BSO’s Board of Trustees and its executive search committee, said, “Chad is an incredibly accomplished executive who has a proven track record of creating environments in which orchestras thrive, audiences enjoy orchestral music in both traditional and non-traditional ways, and unique partnerships flourish.”
Throughout his career, Smith has advocated for up-and-coming composers, conductors, and soloists. He knows how to honor the legacy of the orchestral art form while promoting a more culturally diverse future. His experience designing performance spaces and venues has focused on providing musical diversity, nurturing emerging talent, and appealing to a broad spectrum of audiences.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Smith says, “I am thrilled by the boundless opportunities to support and expand the things that make the BSO so special, influential in Boston, and renowned worldwide—from the Orchestra’s longstanding legacy in the iconic Symphony Hall to the cherished Boston Pops, the Tanglewood festival, the Tanglewood Learning Institute, and the Tanglewood Music Center, where I studied for two summers. Undoubtedly, the Orchestra is at the heart of it al—a cultural gem for the city and a valuable asset to the arts community both locally and globally. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to collaborate with three exceptional artistic directors, and one of my favorite aspects of these partnerships is empowering creative artists to perform at their very best. I am excited to work with BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons, the talented musicians, the dedicated staff, and the Board of Trustees to continue building on the BSO’s remarkable musical legacy. I am deeply grateful to the Board of Trustees for this incredible honor.”
