Music Academy president plans to retire

By DAILY SOUND STAFF — Nov. 24, 2009

After leading the Music Academy of the West through a series of program initiatives and capital projects, NancyBell Coe announced plans to retire as the academy’s president following its 2010 Summer Festival.

Having served since 2004 as the third president in the organization’s history, Coe oversaw a variety of campus improvements, including a major renovation of Hahn Hall.

“I love the Music Academy and this decision, which was difficult to make, simply reflects my desire to spend more time with my still-new husband,” she said in a news release. “I know that, despite the continuing financial pressure, the future is very bright for our wonderful and beloved organization, making this an opportune time for new leadership, perspective and energy.”

Coe said she plans to stay in Santa Barbara with her husband of two years, Bill Burke. Once she retires next year, academy board chairman James E. Davidson will oversee efforts to find her successor.

“NancyBell Coe has been an outstanding president,” Davidson said in the news release. “I’ve enjoyed working closely with her these past few years. Her leadership has positioned the academy for a new era of exceptional classical music.”

School officials said the academy’s stature has grown steadily under Coe’s oversight, leading to a record number of applications for its summer school and festival this year.

Following her graduation from Wellesley College, Coe began a lengthy career in classical music administration — first as a staff member of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. She continued on to a variety of positions, including manager and general manager of the Cleveland Orchestra and artistic administrator of the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Coe is also serving a 1-year term as president of the board of directors of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras and is a member of the Ojai Music Festival Board.

“I am very said that she is leaving,” Marilyn Horne, director of the academy’s voice program since 1997, said in a news release. “I have loved working with her, but I do understand that she wants more life with her husband. I will miss her, but am delighted to know she and Bill will be with us still in Santa Barbara.”

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Nice whitewash on Coe's departure : 11/24/2009

The real truth is that this is the fallout of her inappropriate and abrupt firing of the two long term store managers this past summer. The women's auxiliary was almost decimated with mass resignations and a packed meeting was held of the auxiliary, board, etc where she was publicly chastised. She was so emotionally devasted that she could barely speak and knew her time was up then.
There's a lot that needs to be exposed at MAW. The next should be the almost 200K salary (+expenses?) of the VP Development. That is another ripe potential scandal for this "non-profit".
Now the almost 200K salary (and I am sure +expenses) of the VP of development needs to be exposed.

watching SB

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Ridiculous ranting : 11/28/2009

The post titled "Nice whitewash on Coe's departure" is inaccurate in the extreme. I attended the meeting in question, and despite some pointed criticism NancyBell Coe was the essence of grace and intelligence, as she has been throughout her tenure as Music Academy president. The only "scandal" here is that someone would seek to damage the Academy by anonymously posting baseless allegations on the Daily Sound website.

A local arts supporter

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