A Champion for Orchestras

By Robert Sandla  

Simon Woods believes in orchestras. Growing up, he was spellbound by orchestras: the power of the sounds they make, their infinite variety in bringing music to life, the way an ensemble can go from 0 to 60 in a few heart-stopping measures. And in a journey that has taken him from musician to conductor to record producer to artistic administrator to chief executive positions at orchestras in the U.S. and the U.K, he has been engrossed by all the extra-musical things orchestras do: how they can provide solace and inspiration, play vital roles in their hometowns, and forge enduring bonds with multiple communities.