By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra has a new board chairman.
Cynthia Brinkley took the position Wednesday after being elected in August.
Brinkley, who is the president of SBC Missouri, says it's a challenging time for the symphony. Concerts have been cancelled four weekends this month due to a work stoppage.
But Brinkley says she's optimistic symphony musicians and management will come to a new contract agreement.
"I think the good news is that we all want the same thing," Brinkley said. "We all want a world-class orchestra. We all want our musicians to be first-rate and paid well. We all want for the symphony to be on solid financial ground."
Brinkley says while it's a challenging time, the symphony also has a lot going for it, including the appointment of David Robertson as music director.
"I think his expertise, his involvement in the community, his general excitement and enthusiasm is just going to be wonderful for the St. Louis Symphony, and I think it's going to be something that the community is really going to enjoy," she said.
Robertson will join the Symphony in September.
Brinkley has been on the symphony board for two years and replaces Virginia Weldon as board chairwoman.