Symphony Space President & CEO Cynthia Elliott to Retire After 13 Years

Symphony Space's Board Chair Steven Aresty announced today that President & CEO Cynthia Elliott, who led the performing arts complex for 13 years, will be retiring at the end of the 2016 season.

Aresty commented, "Cynthia's visionary leadership and talent for executing ambitious projects have positioned Symphony Space for continued success. I join my fellow board members in wishing her well and expressing deep gratitude for her impressive legacy."

During Elliott's 13 years at Symphony Space, the beloved neighborhood cultural hub of the Upper West Side was revitalized into one of New York City's liveliest performing arts complexes. Audience attendance has increased by over 60% over the last decade due to a wider range of high-quality multidisciplinary programming and a deep commitment to audience engagement and development.

Elliott added, "It's been an honor and delight to lead Symphony Space through an era of tremendous growth, due to an extremely talented staff, outstanding programmatic leadership by Artistic Director Andrew Byrne, and a Board that is dedicated to the organization's continued success."

Andrew Byrne, who joined Symphony Space in 2014, expressed the following: "It's been a wonderful experience to work alongside Cynthia for two seasons, and to witness her deep passion for bringing incredible and important art to a wide audience. Due to her commitment and vision, Symphony Space is poised for enduring greatness, and it's an honor to be a part of the team that Cynthia helped to create."

The Board of Directors of Symphony Space has formed a search committee to find Elliott's successor.

For 38 years, Symphony Space has produced and presented artistically and culturally diverse music, literary, family, and film programs that bring artists and audiences together in an atmosphere of exploration and intimacy. Its signature events include Selected Shorts, performed live at Symphony Space and nationally broadcast on public radio; Bloomsday on Broadway; and Wall to Wall free music marathons.

Symphony Space traces its beginnings to a free marathon concert, Wall to Wall Bach, held in 1978 and organized by co-founders Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller. The music marathon then drew thousands of visitors and has since become one of the organization's signature events. Today Symphony Space presents more than 600 events each season, including music, dance, theater, film, and literary readings.

Some of its best known programs include Selected Shorts, a reading of short stories by stars of stage and screen, and one of the most popular series on public radio; National Theatre Live broadcasting the best of British theatre to cinemas around the world; and Just Kidding, one of the most talked about family entertainment series around town. Uptown Showdownhas been called "New York's best comedy series" by New York Magazine.

Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. Box office hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 1 pm - 6 pm, open two hours prior to performances and events. Tickets can also be purchased through www.symphonyspace.org, or by calling 212/864-5400.