Cleveland breeds another orchestra boss
mainJon Limbacher, head fund-raiser at the Cleveland Orchestra, is the new president of Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He replaces Bruce Coppock who yesterday announced his retirement.
Jon, who has been with Cleveland since 1991 in varied roles, has been the orch’s Chief Development Officer for the past four years.
He is the latest of a stream of Clevies who have been headhunted by wannabees. Both Atlanta and Chicago have recently raided Cleveland cookie jar for exec talent.
His departure marks a further team transition, ahead of Gary Hanson’s imminent retirement from the orch.
Rats running out from a sinking ship? Remember, you read it here first.
Worth noting that until four years ago he was Chief Operating Officer of SPCO, so this is a homecoming.
He left the SPCO in 2012, right before the lockout. Now he’s back. Prescient? Orchestrated?
Jon is a class act. Bruce Coppock was on my staff when I was the CEO of the St. Louis Symphony and replaced me in 1991 when I moved to take on the CEO position with the Minnesota Orchestra. I had been an assistant with the Minnesota Orchestra from 1966-72.
Bruce Coppock has done a remarkable job under difficult circumstances and Jon will be fine as he knows the organization and the Twin Cities community.
And to add to my previous comment, John was COO at the SPCO from 2000 to 2012. So this is hardly the case of them poaching Cleveland long-timer.