Nashville Symphony CEO Mark Cantrell Departs After Season Suspension

Mark Cantrell has left his post as president and CEO of the Nashville Symphony, days after the orchestra suspended its season.

Board member Mark Tillinger will replace him, presumably on an unpaid basis, according to the report.

Cantrell held the job for only a couple of months. His predecessor is being widely blamed for the organization's financial collapse.

Board chair Teresa Sebastian defended the appointment of Tillinger in a statement: "Mark Tillinger is exactly the right leader for this moment. He possesses a deep understanding of this organization and this community, and he has the executive experience needed to lead complex financial turnarounds."

The leadership shake-up is not the only fallout. Two violinists have resigned from the orchestra.

The changes point to a deepening crisis at one of America's regional orchestras, with Sebastian's reference to "complex financial turnarounds" signaling that further restructuring — and, as the original report puts it, more axe falls — are likely to follow.