Former New Century Chamber Orchestra Director Reflects On His 18-Year Tenure

Parker Monroe started as the executive director of the New Century Chamber Orchestra (NCCO) in 1996, turning a then four-year-old orchestra into one of the most exciting classical ensembles in town. Under Monroe's leadership, the orchestra went on multiple national tours, commissioned new works by important American composers, and released a handful of recordings, including last month's From A to Z, a set of four concertos commissioned by NCCO by Clarice Assad, William Bolcom, Michael Daugherty, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. Parker has retired from his position, and will be replaced by former Chanticleer singer and music PR executive Philip Wilder. Parker looks back at his tenure with SFist.