Peter Tesei Named President of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors

Mary Radcliffe who has been President of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors since 1983 is retiring. The new President of the board is former Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei, who has been a GSO board member for several years.

Tesei is taking over at a critical time because the GSO’s conductor David Gilbert is also retiring after this season, which starts in the fall.

After this season, which will be Gilbert’s last as a conductor, the orchestra will have a season of auditions.

Five conductors will be considered as finalists for the position and each will be invited to guest conduct a concert as an audition. Of those five the GSO will select a new conductor.

Mary Radcliffe and Peter Tesei in Riverside. June 10, 2020

“The Greenwich Symphony is a world renowned orchestra,” Tesei said on Wednesday at Radcliffe’s home for a board meeting that featured champagne and cake to celebrate his appointment. “There is a highly skilled and engaged Board of Directors and members that I am excited to work with as the organization transitions to a new music director/conductor.”

“We will be engaging the community to attend concerts and experience new programming as we promote and grow appreciation of this treasured Greenwich cultural resource,” Tesei said. “Mary Radcliffe did a superb job in building the GSO and did so with an abiding commitment and a passion for the music and musicians. The GSO Board, which Mary remains a member will build on her successes.”

“This transition time for the orchestra is an amazing opportunity with Peter as our new executive board president and the new conductor and music director search set to be completed within the next year or two,” said Anita O’Sullivan, Greenwich Symphony Board member.

Tesei said he will seek to increase awareness of the GSO, which is primarily known for its youth concerts for public and private school students every year.

He said he encouraged people who may not be familiar with the Greenwich Symphony and want to learn more and become involved to go to the website Greenwichsymphony.org

Peter Tesei and Mary Radcliffe at the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra board of directors meeting. June 10, 2020 Photo: Leslie Yager