Schwarz Leaving Seattle

Gerard Schwarz will step down from the music directorship of the Seattle Symphony in 2011, after more than two decades at the orchestra’s helm. “Schwarz, 61, said there was no pressure on him not to seek a renewal of his contract. However, the last few years have been tumultuous for him, with fierce power struggles on the board and among the staff; disputes between him and SSO musicians; lawsuits; million-dollar budget deficits, and yards of bad press, locally, nationally and internationally.”