International Symphony Orchestra and executive director part ways

The International Symphony Orchestra (ISO) and executive director Anthony (Tony) Wing have parted ways after six years and Douglas Bianchi, conductor and music director since 2012, says his future with the orchestra is uncertain.

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“It became untenable to stay,” Wing said.

Liwardson Vijayabalan, president of the orchestra’s board, said it accepted Wing’s resignation and, while the board searches for a full-time replacement, marketing manager Elyse Duchesne is serving as interim executive director.

“I just want him back, and I want the board to understand that without him, we’ve got a serious situation on our hands,” Bianchi said about Wing’s departure during the current concert season.

“I just don’t even want to return, and I obviously don’t want to leave the orchestra,” Bianchi said.

“I’m very optimistic about the future of the ISO and looking forward to the opportunity to communicate with the membership, and for them to be informed about the challenges that we have ahead and the challenges we’ve been working on over the past year ,” Vijayabalan said.

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He said the orchestra’s annual general meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 5:30 pm, at 136 Christina St. N.

“I believe that once we have the opportunity to speak candidly with our membership, that we’ll be able to move forward in a really positive way,” Vijayabalan said.

Wing was hired in 2018 as executive director of the semi-professional orchestra based in Sarnia and Port Huron, Mich.

“Unfortunately, after the two most successful seasons in our history, the current board of directors and I were unable to agree on the ISO’s direction,” Wing said in a statement.

“I’m exiting with gratitude for our supporters and love for our musicians in Ontario and the great State of Michigan,” he said.

“We believe that Tony is a brilliant and talented musician, as well as a very passionate believer and supporter of the symphony,” Vijayabalan said.

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“We’d like to give special consideration to Tony’s work during the pandemic,” he said. “When many other orchestras went bankrupt or closed down over the past several years, Tony was able to be very creative and helped us get through the pandemic.”

Wing “pioneered many community programs,” including an El Sistema string education program for youth, Vijayabalan said.

“We believe he has been instrumental in those gains in those areas, and we thank him for it,” he said.

Wing grew up in Sarnia, attending the former Central secondary school before heading to McGill University to study piano. After university, Wing wrote speeches for three different premiers at Queen’s Park through the 1990s, sang in a Toronto metal band and became a Calgary-based professional oyster shucker who competed at the Canadian oyster shucking championships.

The orchestra, which performs in both Sarnia and Michigan, recently launched its 67th season.

The non-profit International Symphony Orchestra formed in 1957 with the merger of the Little Orchestra Society of Sarnia and the Port Huron String Ensemble.

Currently, it’s made up of 50 to 60 musicians from both sides of the border, as well as the Symphony Singers ISO choir.

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