Kevin Smith To Stay On As Minnesota Orchestra CEO

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Interim Minnesota Orchestra president Kevin Smith has become the organization's permanent chief executive.

The orchestra's board appointed Smith president and CEO by a unanimous vote.

Smith, who ran the Minnesota Opera for 25 years before retiring in 2011, took over as interim leader in the wake of a labor dispute and 16-month lockout of the orchestra's musicians. He was hired last summer following the departure of orchestra President and CEO Michael Henson.

His contract runs through the 2017-18 season. During that time, the orchestra will negotiate new contracts with both the musicians and music director Osmo Vanska.

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