Director of Detroit Symphony resigns abruptly

Emil Kang, the 35-year-old executive director of the financially beleaguered Detroit Symphony, resigned abruptly Monday without explanation. Kang was the youngest administrator of an American orchestra when he was appointed at 31 in 2000 after six months as interim executive director.

The new board chairman refused to comment on whether Kang was forced out, but another board member said the board “as a group” did not seek his resignation, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Kang’s resignation, effective Dec. 31, comes at the end of a 3 1/2-year tenure notable for his successes in building consensus among musicians, board members and music director Neeme Jarvi, who will be stepping down at the end of the 2004-05 season; shepherding the organization through the opening of the $60-million Max M. Fisher Center in October; and revamping the summer season at the Meadow Brook Music Festival. At the same time, administrative and marketing costs mounted, and income from the summer festival fell $750,000 short of projections.

The orchestra ran a $1.8-million deficit in 2003, its third consecutive year of red ink. With a $1-million transfer from its endowment two years ago, however, the accumulated deficit stands at only $2.2 million.

The orchestra is also in the midst of a search for a new music director.