RALEIGH -- David Chambless Worters, who has led the N.C. Symphony through both plump and lean times in the past 11 years, announced Wednesday that he is leaving to head the Van Cliburn Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas.
Worters, 42, will step down Nov.15 as president and CEO of the N.C. Symphony, one of the state's major cultural institutions. In Texas, he will run the world-famous piano competition.
"Being a part of the North Carolina Symphony's journey for 11 years has been an honor and personal joy," Worters said. "Saying farewell is bittersweet. The symphony has come so far and is such a critical part of the state's vision for its future, and I have every confidence that it will thrive in the coming years."
His departure comes as the symphony has been digging itself out debt brought about by the economic recession. During the past season, the symphony broke even as a result of sharp cost-cutting and stepped-up money raising. But it remains $2.8 million in debt.
William Cavanaugh III, the symphony chairman, said the orchestra's executive committee meets Tuesday to discuss the process for finding a successor to Worters.
Cavanaugh, a retired Raleigh utility company executive, said Worters had contributed to the symphony's success in many ways over the past decade.
"His leadership, vision and creativity have helped to shape this organization and expand the reach of the symphony to new audiences," Cavanaugh said. "David will be missed, but we are excited for him and his family as they embark on this new adventure together."
During Worters' tenure, the symphony opened Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh and the outdoor Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park in Cary. It also recruited Grant Llewellyn as music director.
Worters said there is never a good time to leave. But as a former pianist, Worters said the Van Cliburn job was just too good to pass up. The Foundation oversees the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition every four years, produces the Cliburn Concerts series for North Texas audiences and hosts other educational programs and competitions. The job of running the foundation had not come open in 23 years.
"It is arguably the most prestigious musical competition in the world," Worters said. "I grew up with the piano. Piano is in my blood. For a pianist turned administrator, this is the holy grail."
