Orchestra Board Elects New Chairman

Philadelphia, March 19, 2009, The Philadelphia Inquirer — After a queasy freefall, the leadership of the Philadelphia Orchestra is regaining its footing.

Richard B. Worley, a wealthy and, by many accounts, knowledgeable orchestra lover who has served in several board capacities, was elected chairman of the Orchestra Association Thursday.

His term starts in September, though he has already begun laying the groundwork for his agenda. Joseph Jacovini, who has been acting board chair since the early departure of Harold A. Sorgenti, will continue in his role until Worley takes over.

Worley, 63, an investment advisor, is married to lawyer Leslie Anne Miller, who has led the Kimmel Center in various roles. In their philanthropy, social life and public service, the couple has been active in arts groups for decades, and Worley is expected to involve his wife as a partner in his new role at the orchestra.

Worley is managing director of Permit Capital Group, LLC, an investment firm. Previously, he was president and CEO of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management, and was chairman of Miller Anderson & Sherrerd, a Conshohocken money manager bought by Morgan Stanley Group in 1995 for $350 million.

His involvement with the orchestra goes back a decade, "He clearly is someone who has spent a lot of time at the organization, he has spent a lot of money on the organization and he clearly loves the organization," said interim president Frank P. Slattery Jr.

The immediate agenda for Worley is formidable. He must work to stanch the red ink threatening the orchestra's balance sheet this season and next; hire a permanent president to lead the administration; oversee a music director search; and manage a dialogue between the board and musicians over scheduled raises that some board members feel the orchestra cannot afford at this time.

He must also help develop the orchestra's mission, deciding whether and how to develop a web presence, electronic media and education programs.

"This is the first leg of the stool," said Slattery. "This gives you the stability to go out and find a real orchestra manager."

The orchestra recently completed an endowment campaign, and despite slightly exceeding its goal, has suffered a dramatic decline in the market value of the endowment.

Worley, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, has served on many non-profit boards, including those of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Colonial Williamsburg, Wildlife Fund, Mount Holyoke College, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania.