Las Vegas Philharmonic music director to exit

It's the beginning of the end for the Las Vegas Philharmonic's music director, David Itkin, who has opted not to seek an extension of his contract, which expires June 30, 2013.

In turn, Las Vegas Philharmonic trustees have launched an immediate search for his replacement.

Itkin notified the board by email last week that he would not pursue a contract extension; in turn, trustees voted not to seek an extension of his contract, according to a Las Vegas Philharmonic news release.

Itkin declined to comment on his decision, other than to say that it had "nothing to do with the commute" between Las Vegas and Texas, where he conducts the Abilene Symphony and heads the orchestral studies program at the University of North Texas' College of Music.

Despite Itkin's announced departure, he will conduct the Las Vegas Philharmonic's 2012-13 season, its first full season at downtown's Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

"That I can definitely say," Itkin noted, clarifying possible misunderstandings regarding his departure after next season.

Asked whether there might be friction during his last season leading the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Itkin again declined to comment, saying only, "I don't have anything more to say about it."

Itkin became the Las Vegas Philharmonic's music director in July 2007, succeeding founder Hal Weller, who led the orchestra from 1998 to 2007.

Philharmonic trustees chose Itkin following an almost two-year search, during which they considered more than 250 applicants.

When he took over as the orchestra's music director, Itkin was also music director of the Abilene Philharmonic, which he has led since 2005, and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, a post he had held since 1993. (Itkin was named Conductor Laureate of the Arkansas orchestra in 2010 following a 17-year tenure.)

In searching for Itkin's successor, Philharmonic trustees will "focus on finding a candidate who can provide strong artistic leadership and help guide the organization as it enters an exciting and challenging period of growth and community engagement," according to the orchestra's news release.

The Philharmonic's first three Smith Center concerts "attracted large, enthusiastic audiences and fueled the feeling within the organization that this is the time to make our mark and cement our role as a valued arts organization within Southern Nevada," Philharmonic president Jeri Crawford stated in the release.

Crawford was out of town and unavailable for an interview Monday, according to Jennifer Scott, Las Vegas Philharmonic public relations consultant.

In the Philharmonic news release, trustees thanked Itkin "for his years of service to the orchestra, and for helping bring us to this point," adding that the music director "leaves the orchestra in an artistically and strategically strong position and we wish him well in his future endeavors."

Itkin's final season with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, themed "A Year in Pictures," includes the slogan "We Play in Vegas, We Stay in Vegas, We Are Your Las Vegas Philharmonic" - a "deliberate step," according to the Philharmonic statement, "towards defining the orchestra as embedded in the Las Vegas community."

Contact reporter Carol Cling at ccling@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272.