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photo by Miro Vintoniv
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Daniel Steiner, President of New England Conservatory, announced at this morning's Convocation that he intends to retire by the end of the school year--his seventh year as president--due to poor health.
Much of Steiner's working life was spent as vice president and general counsel at Harvard University, and while he is the first non-musician to lead the Conservatory, he brought to NEC these years of experience in leading and administering an academic institution as well as a passion for music.
President Steiner increased the value of the institution by backing a strategic long-range plan that "focused on people"--students and faculty of the highest quality--and that led to a $100 million capital campaign that has raised $65 million to date.
During the Steiner presidency, other music schools took note of NEC's sharpened competitive edge, with Juilliard president Joseph Polisi remarking to his NEC counterpart: "Your leadership of NEC at a crucial time in its history has been visionary and highly focused. You should feel very gratified for the brilliant faculty appointments you have made during your tenure. As I've said many times, 'you certainly are keeping me on my toes!' "
NEC's Board of Trustees will shortly begin a search to choose Steiner's successor. |
