Symphony Director Passes Baton

Alan Burdick, executive director of the North Arkansas Symphony for the past 18 months, resigned Nov. 18 during a meeting of the symphony’s board of directors.

Harry Blair, board chairman, said Burdick told the board “he needed to move on and he felt like he was not able to get things done the way he wanted to get them done.” The board believes Burdick was doing a good job and didn’t want to see him leave, Blair said, but added that the board plans to recruit a new executive director quickly.

The symphony is “in good shape” with this season already in place and plans underway for next season, Blair said. He characterized the board as “upbeat” about the symphony’s future despite the setback.