Thomas Wilkins (Omaha Symphony)
Omaha.com
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
The Omaha Symphony agreed with its music director, Thomas Wilkins, to a three-year contract extension through the 2017-18 season.
“It
feels terrific,” Wilkins said of the agreement, his third contract
extension since joining the symphony in 2005. “It always feels good to
know you're wanted.”
That feeling goes both ways, according to
Omaha Symphony president and chief executive officer James Johnson, who
admitted he breathed a sigh of relief over the new contract. Johnson
declined to reveal Wilkins' new salary. The symphony's most recent
filing with the Internal Revenue Service for fiscal year 2011 listed
Wilkins' annual pay at $146,825.
“Thomas is in great demand,”
Johnson said. “He is somebody who holds incredibly impressive spots with
these major institutions like the Boston Symphony and the Los Angeles
Philharmonic, and so I just feel as though this is wonderful news for
Omaha, and especially good news for the Omaha Symphony.”
Johnson
saw that demand firsthand last season when he attended a concert in
another city, where Wilkins was debuting as a guest conductor. It so
happened that symphony was in the hunt for a music director of its own,
and the post-concert scene back stage left an impression.
“There
were, no exaggeration, 40 musicians lined up outside his dressing room
door,” Johnson said. “Each one telling him how wonderful the week was
when he was there and (asking) would he come be their music director.”
Johnson said he knew Wilkins was committed to Omaha, but the experience added some urgency to the renewal process.
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