Tafelmusik Board Chair Helen Polatajko has announced today that William Norris will resign from his role after three years as Managing Director effective July 4, 2018.
Norris, 40, joined Tafelmusik in the fall of 2015 to replace Tricia Baldwin, who left after to become director of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s University
During his tenure with Tafelmusik, Norris helped secure violinist Elisa Citterio as Music Director, established new audience development initiatives, including Haus Musik which aimed to attract younger audiences to the genre, secured concerts at Luminato’s Hearn Generating Station, created a new Close Encounters chamber series, and introduced pre-concert chats.
In a statement to Ludwig Van, Norris stated that the reason for his departure was a personal one.
“I want to be close to my family, and in particular my parents. So I’m moving back to London where I’ll be just an hour away from them.”
Norris said he plans to move on to a freelance orchestral management career, and confirmed one of his first clients will be managing the award-winning English period ensemble, Arcangelo, headed by cellist Jonathan Cohen.
He described leaving Tafelmusik on a high note as “bittersweet”, but was resolved that the “orchestra will go from strength…” He thanked Tafelmusik staff, the orchestra and choir musicians, and the leadership of the board, including Chair Helen Polatajko.
Tafelmusik is currently forming a new search committee to begin the process of appointing Tafelmusik’s next Managing Director.
We wish him well.