Director of Gilmore International Keyboard Festival Announces Retirement

Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Awards Director, Daniel Gustin, has announced that he will retire in 2018 after leading the organization for 18 years. Gustin was named Director of The Gilmore in 2000 after a successful 30-year career in the management of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its Tanglewood Festival.

"Dan is equally skilled in artistic direction, presentation and administration, which has been vital to the organization's success," said Cindy Kole, president of The Gilmore's Board of Trustees. "His visionary leadership and commitment to the highest standards have positioned The Gilmore among the leading organizations in the international music world today. He has providEd Strong and compassionate leadership for our local arts community as well, encouraging important collaborations that have raised the bar for everyone. Dan leaves an extraordinary legacy."

Gustin has led the selection process to name five Gilmore Artist Award recipients and 18 Gilmore Young Artists. In 2002, he doubled the length of the Festival to 18 days, and has since overseen increases in Gilmore educational programming and fundraising. He also created both the annual Rising Stars and biennial Piano Masters Series of concerts and initiated a program that has commissioned more than 50 new keyboard works.

In the local arts community, Gustin has recognized needs and rallied the support and involvement of other organizations, funders and individuals to meet them. Among these community projects have been the 2010 renovation of Chenery Auditorium, the formation of a consortium of arts and cultural organizations to implement a new ticketing and customer relations management system, and the current development of a digital arts and culture magazine.

The Gilmore's Board of Trustees, whose search committee is chaired by Donald Parfet, has retained the New York-based firm Phillips Oppenheim to facilitate the search. "We are very pleased to be working with the professionals at Phillips Oppenheim," said Parfet. "The firm has been successful in matching the needs of some of the country's strongest non-profits, especially arts organizations, with gifted leaders who have, in turn, furthered their new organizations' mission and relevance. Dan Gustin has been very successful in expanding the impact of The Gilmore, and the Board of Trustees believes there is great potential for future development."

The Gilmore's search for its next Director commenced in early April, and is expected to conclude in fall 2017, with the next Director planned to be in place in early 2018. Gustin, who has programmed the 2018 Festival that will be presented April 25 - May 12, 2018, plans to remain in Kalamazoo, and will be available to assure a smooth transition of leadership for The Gilmore.