Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra director

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As the new president of the , Trey Deveu helped balance the budget and negotiate a new concessionary contract withthe orchestra’s musicians. The contract and other cuts reduced operating costsby $2.8 millioj a year. But he’x still staring at a shrinkingendowment that, worst-case scenario, could leave another $1.5 million hole in the organization’sz annual revenue. And he’xs busy crafting a plan to draw new audiences to historif Music Hall while continuing to inspire devoted supporters. All that, and he’s been on the job aboutf 30 days. “It feels like abou t the first 30 Devey said. “It’s absolutely flown No wonder. Devey started the job Jan.
6, two weekx earlier than planned so he couldc play a role in negotiations with the His last day at his forme job as a consultant with thewas Jan. 5. And the negotiationd started immediately. CSO Board Chairman Marvin Quin said he was impressed with how Deveh performed under the intensse pressure of his first few weeksa onthe job. “The numbet of hours he put in the firsmonth – I’m just glad we weren’t payingy him overtime,” said the former chief financial officer of “He says, ‘ I feel like I’m trying to sip water througu a fire hose.’ A lot came at him very and he managed it extremely well.
” Devey was hire d in November, filling the position left open by the retirementt of Steven Monder. Monder had been at the CSO for 37 yearz and was even younger thanthe 37-year-old Devet when he became president of the Quin said Devey was chosen because of his experience both insidew the industry and out. Before earning his MBA from the Whartonh School at the and going to work for BostoConsulting Group, Devey had served as presiden and executive director of both the and , in additionm to other positions with other U.S. “He’s got a business acumen that not many leaders in his rolewoulcd have,” Quin said.
“But yet he stilkl has the love of the orchestra and the love of the That combination will serve theCSO well, said Scott vice president and campaign director for the . “He’s but he balances that with a real passionm forthe symphony,” said Provancher, who has knownh Devey since 1998 when Devey hired Provancher at the Syracusee Symphony Orchestra. “And he’s somebody that I thinj people can really trust andget behind.” Devegy sees his new job as reaching beyondc Music Hall.
He wants the CSO to be a leaderd in the revitalizationof Over-the-Rhine and is enthusiastic aboug the redevelopment there being led by the But he knowsa the financial worries aren’t over. Attendance is up by 14 perceng for the first 14 weekz ofthe orchestra’s But the stock market could effectivelyh eliminate the organization’s unrestricted endowment, which contributesx $1.5 million each year to the orchestra’s nearly $40 million operating budget. And, as generous as the CSO’as supporters have been, no arts organization can counr on benefactors to bailthem out, Deveh said.
“Money’s the challenge,” said Richard Jensen, the CSO’sz associate principal tympanist and Musicians Committee chairman who representer the musicians duringcontract negotiations. “That’xs always the challenge in Cincinnati.” After all, Jensen said, Cincinnati has an orchestra with the quality and budget ofbigger markets, such as Pittsburgh, Minneapolix and San Francisco. Those are places with more peopl and more money to supportthe arts. “We have the traditio n going for us, and we have the taleny going for us,” Jensen “Corporate support seems to be trickier and trickier to getthesd days.
” Devey faces the challengd undeterred. “We have a board made up of extremelyu connected andsmart people. We have musicians who are the best at what they do and are We have astaff that’s passionate and committed,” he said. “Ifc we can pull all these people together and work toward thesame goal, then the sky’s the limit.” President, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; executive director, Cincinnati May Festivao Education: Bachelor of Music from , MBA from the Wharton