Deborah Borda sent shock waves through the LA Arts community when she announced this spring she was leaving her role as CEO and President at the LA Philharmonic.

In her almost 20 year tenure, she transformed the organization into one of the most financially sound and well respected arts institutions in the world.  Needless to say, the new CEO has some pretty big shoes to fill.

Who exactly will fill those shoes has been the subject of much speculation until the LA Phil announced Thursday last week that it Simon Woods, the current president and CEO of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, will become its new leader. Take Two spoke with the LA Times’ classical music critic Mark Swed about Borda’s accomplishments and the challenges that await the new CEO. 

TO HEAR THE FULL CONVERSATION WITH MARK SWED, CLICK THE BLUE PLAYER ABOVE.