The current president and CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra plans to retire early next year. The organization will turn to one of its current executives to take the reins, at least in the interim, while it conducts a search for its next leader.
On Friday, CSO announced that Jonathan Martin will formally step down on Feb. 16, following a seven-year tenure at the top of the organization. The board of directors picked COO Robert McGrath to assume the role of acting president and CEO.
“The seven years of leading the CSO in Cincinnati, a community that loves and nurtures the performing arts, has been unquestionably the highlight of my 45 years in the American orchestra field,” said Martin, who led one of the most successful periods in the orchestra’s 130-year history, both artistically and financially. The organization credits him with attracting a mix of innovative performances and inclusive programming initiatives as well as leading the selection of Cristian Măcelaru as the CSO’s next music director.
Martin also developed and implemented the CSO’s long-term strategic plan, introducing new ways to experience and present classical music. In 2019, he oversaw the debut of CSO Proof, a concert format laboratory. Since its start, there’ve been 10 CSO Proof concerts, featuring, among others, vogue ballroom culture, multimedia and an immersive Havana night club experience in “Surrealist El Tropical” last year.
“I am proud of the strength of our institution and its broadened service to our community,” Martin continued. “While my decision to retire is bittersweet for me personally, it was made less so by knowing that the CSO is a strong, stable organization with fabulous musicians, an extraordinarily talented Music Director Designate, a dedicated Board of Directors and an administrative staff that is the envy of our field.”
An era of innovation and artistic expression
During his time at the helm, Martin worked to make the orchestra more inclusive, focusing on addressing the underrepresentation of BIPOC individuals in orchestral music. Under his leadership, the CSO became one of the first American orchestras to create a chief diversity and inclusion officer position on its administrative team. In 2021, Martin launched the Orchestra’s Brady Block Parties Series, offering free outdoor concerts in neighborhoods across Greater Cincinnati.
As part of his role with CSO, Martin has also led the combined organization of the CSO and its subsidiary, Music and Event Management, Inc. (MEMI). Under his leadership, the CSO has grown its endowment funds by over $100 million and has consistently balanced its operating budgets every fiscal year for 14 consecutive years. Martin also oversaw the opening of The Andrew J Brady Music Center on the Banks in 2021 and is currently leading the construction of an ultramodern outdoor performance venue to replace the 40-year-old Riverbend Music Center.
“Jonathan is a formidable leader,” said CSO Board Chair Dianne Rosenberg. “His commitment to moving the CSO forward to embrace new opportunities and engage wider audiences has made a lasting impact on our Orchestra and our City. He leaves us with a bright future, and I am grateful to him for his dedication.”
The continuation of a 13-year leadership journey at CSO
Replacing Martin will be no easy task, but Rosenberg and Martin believe McGrath is the right person to fill in for him. As a 13-year veteran of the CSO, McGrath has served as COO since 2021 and previously held the role of vice president and general manager from 2011 to 2021.
His responsibilities have included overseeing artistic planning, marketing, communications, orchestra personnel, production, media and learning initiatives. McGrath has played a key role in many of the CSO’s most ambitious projects, including Lumenocity. In a hiring note, the board praised him for his work to expand the orchestra’s educational initiatives to support historically underrepresented populations, such as the CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship and the Nouveau program, which supports African American and Latine student musicians in classical music.
McGrath has worked on or led other projects, including the $143 million renovation of Music Hall, serving on search committees for Măcelaru and recently departed music director Louis Langrée, and leading labor relations with the musicians and Local-1 and the American Federation of Musicians.
“It has been an honor to be a part of the forward trajectory of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and I am deeply grateful to Jonathan for his leadership and guidance through the years,” said McGrath. “I am excited to partner with Cristian Măcelaru, our Board of Directors, musicians, administrative team and the community as we continue to increase our impact and relevance through music.”
McGrath will work closely with Martin over the next three months to ensure a smooth leadership transition. The CSO didn’t outline a timeline for naming Martin’s permanent successor.
“The future of the CSO is bright under Robert’s leadership, and I look forward to working with him as we transition roles in the coming months,” Martin said.
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