ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Diane Wittry, who had led Allentown Symphony Orchestra for 31 years as conductor and music director, will step down, the symphony announced Thursday.
Wittry will conduct her final concert in fall 2027 but continue to serve as the orchestra's music director through May 2028, Allentown Symphony Association said in a release.
During that time, she will work closely with the association board of directors and staff "to ensure a smooth and successful artistic leadership transition," it said.
"Together, we have built an orchestra of exceptional professional quality, expanded our concert offerings, championed new music, and deepened our partnerships throughout the Lehigh Valley.Allentown Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Music Director Diane Wittry
“After many years of heartfelt music making, I have decided to retire," Wittry said in a statement.
"Together, we have built an orchestra of exceptional professional quality, expanded our concert offerings, championed new music, and deepened our partnerships throughout the Lehigh Valley.
"I am profoundly proud of what we have accomplished and grateful for the unwavering support of the musicians, board, staff and community."
The board has begun forming a search committee to lead a national search for the orchestra’s next music director and conductor, the release said.
By the time Wittry leaves, her tenure will be the longest in the orchestra’s history, surpassing that of Donald Voorhees, music director and conductor for 32 years from the orchestra's 1951 founding to 1983.
“Diane Wittry’s impact on the Allentown Symphony Orchestra is both profound and lasting,” Association Board President Jack Bury said.
“For more than three decades, she has led with extraordinary artistic vision, integrity, and commitment — raising the orchestra to the highest professional standards while expanding its reach through education, new music and deep community engagement."
Prolific praise
Allentown Symphony Association Executive Director Al Jacobsen said that “Working alongside Diane Wittry has been one of the great privileges of my professional life."
"Her artistic leadership has elevated the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in every dimension — from performance quality and innovative programming to education, community partnerships and national recognition," Jacobson said.
"Since the start of her tenure in 1995, she has championed adventurous programming that paired underperformed masterworks with new and contemporary compositions."Allentown Symphony Association release
"Diane has built not only an exceptional orchestra, but a culture of excellence, collaboration, and service. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and for her continued partnership as we thoughtfully prepare for the orchestra’s next chapter.”
The association's release said "Wittry leaves a deep and enduring legacy of artistic excellence, innovation and growth."
"Since the start of her tenure in 1995, she has championed adventurous programming that paired underperformed masterworks with new and contemporary compositions," it said.
"From the outset, she raised artistic standards by challenging the orchestra musically and increasing rehearsal and preparation expectations, attracting highly accomplished musicians to audition from across the region, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware."
The release said that Wittry was "an early adopter of immersive concert experiences" and "expanded the orchestra’s creative reach by integrating lighting, visual design, video, actors, dancers, and vocalists into performances — broadening audience engagement while reimagining the orchestral concert experience."
In just her second season, Wittry, following a major bequest from brothers Leigh and Edwin Schadt, helped establish the National Schadt String Competition, now widely recognized as one of the premier string competitions in the United States.
Under her leadership, the release said, the orchestra "experienced sustained expansion, including expanding the Classical Concerts to double performances; the addition of Pops Concerts, Family Concerts and a partnership with the Repertory Dance Theatre to present "The Nutcracker" each December.
More accomplishments
Other accomplishments during Wittry’s tenure include the formal re-establishment of the Allentown Symphony Chorus in 2014 and the launch of the Holiday Pops concert in 2021.
The Holiday Pops concert sold out virtually every year since, the release said.
Wittry led the orchestra in commissioning and performing more than 36 world premieres, including four of her own compositions.
In 2020, she helped launch both the orchestra's Composer-in-Residence program and the Composer Collaborative.
Education and community engagement also were significant parts of Wittry’s tenure. She introduced the “Meet the Artist” luncheon series, launched the Conducting Fellows program in 2010.
In 2011 she spearheaded establishment of El Sistema Lehigh Valley — an intensive music education initiative that now serves about 150 students from more than 20 schools throughout the region.
In 2024, the symphony formed a Latin Leadership Committee to deepen engagement with Allentown’s growing Latin community and hired its first Musician-in-Residence, who is required to be a bilingual in Spanish and English, in 2025.
In addition to her work with the ASO, Wittry has been music director and conductor of the Garden State Philharmonic in New Jersey and associate conductor of the renowned Ojai Music Festival in California.
She also was artistic director of the International Music Program with the Sarajevo Philharmonic in Bosnia; and music director and conductor of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, the Norwalk [Connecticut] Symphony and the Ridgewood [New Jersey] Symphony.