Breaking: Toronto Symphony loses its head (again)

This is not a competition, but the Toronto Symphony Orchestra has probably been through more chief execs in the past two decades than any other leading orchestra, often abruptly.

The latest to go is Mathew Loden, who continued the stabilisations process initiated by the previous interim manager, Gary Hanson.

Matthew arrived from the Philadelphia Orchestra in July 2018, hired a new music director in Gustavo Gimeno and secured a number of significant gifts.

However, he has decided for family reasons to return to Texas, and a different career. ‘The decision to return to Texas was deeply personal—to be closer to our family—and coincided with an offer from Rice University, where I began my career as Director of Music Admissions,’ he says. He has done a good job, but the job has got no easier.

He will be the new dean at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.