PETERBOROUGH — A change in direction is in the works for Monadnock Music, the region’s longtime summer showcase for classical music concerts. And artistic directors Jonathan Bagg and Laura Gilbert, who have been planning the programs, lining up musicians and working to attract audiences for the past five years, won’t be involved, as the organization gears up for what Executive Director Will Chapman is calling “a new era.”

“We will not be continuing to work at Monadnock Music,” Bagg said on Tuesday, when reached by phone at his office at Duke University, where he is a professor of the practice of music. “The festival plans to hire a new artistic director who will be based in the region.”

Monadnock Music posted a message on its website this week, stating that “after a year-long effort, comprising a strategic assessment, a restructuring resulting in the hiring of an executive director, extensive audience surveys, a comprehensive two-day board and staff retreat, and a careful analysis of our business model, the board of Monadnock Music and Executive Director Will Chapman have determined that a new model is needed in order to continue our mission in a way that better serves our community and region, maintains and builds upon our legacy of outstanding musicianship, and will be sustainable for the long term.”

As part of the effort, the message states that Monadnock Music will undergo a thorough reorganization and that staff jobs will be redefined. The future model calls for “a single, strong artistic director who resides full-time in our extended region,” as well as an external relations manager and an operations manager.

Bagg and Gilbert both said, in separate phone interviews, that Chapman recently told them about the restructuring plan, which they said they had not been consulted on. They said he described the single-person, locally based artistic director position.

“He said ‘I assume you and Laura won’t be interested,’” Bagg said.

Bagg and Gilbert both said that when they asked for more information about the job, Chapman said they were each welcome to throw their hats in the ring. Later in the conversation, according to Bagg and Gilbert, they were told that their last paychecks would be in November.

“It’s pretty clear that we wouldn’t be considered,” Bagg said. “My sense is that [Chapman] wants someone who is going to embrace the new Monadnock Music — whatever that is.”
Chapman denies that Bagg and Gilbert have been fired.

“No one has been terminated,” he said in a brief phone interview on Tuesday. “We are working toward a new model to better allow us to serve the community. Things are in development and everything is speculative or embryonic. I can’t comment on rumors.”

Later in the day, in response to a request for further comment, Chapman responded by email: “Taking into account the future health and sustainability of Monadnock Music, the board has decided a restructuring is in order. We are all very excited about the future and look forward to sharing more as our plans become more specific.”

Monadnock Music runs a six-week summer series featuring free classical music concert in the old meetinghouses in several Monadnock region towns, as well as ticketed concerts in the Peterborough Town House. It also offers a program called Lend An Ear! that provides music education to elementary school children throughout the region. Bagg and Gilbert became artistic directors five years ago, following the retirement of the organization’s founder, James Bolle.

Chapman was hired in June as executive director. He reports to a board of directors. The chair of the board, Michael Petrovick of Francestown, did not return phone calls Tuesday and Wednesday seeking comment on the restructuring plan.

Regina Bringolf of Hancock, a former president of the Monadnock Music board, said Wednesday that she is heartbroken by the situation.

“It sounds like a very serious conflict,” she said. “I hope a solution will be found that can allow the organization to continue its wonderful work. We have quite a few drawbacks, due to the location. It’s not easy to attract a big audience. That’s always been a limitation.”

“The strong points have been taken advantage of,” Bringolf continued. “The lovely meetinghouses with wonderful acoustics, a network of talented performers and a loyal audience, although it’s limited. But finances have been a problem for a long time.”

“Laura and Jonathan are superb artists,” she said. “There could have been a collaborative effort. I think they were willing to do that. This feels a bit abrupt.”

Bolle, the founder of Monadnock Music, said he isn’t directly involved with Monadnock Music any more. He also noted that many nonprofit arts organizations are facing financial pressures.

“It’s a very hard time for all not-for-profit groups,” Bolle said on Tuesday. “I know there was a feeling that changes need to be made. Will Chapman has been put in charge of all activities. It’s a very hard job and I certainly wish them all well.”

According to Bagg and Gilbert, audience response to this year’s concerts was enthusiastic and surveys confirmed that impression.

“The biggest complaint was about uncomfortable chairs in the Town House,” Gilbert said. “Most people said, ‘Don’t change a thing.’ It was an amazing affirmation.”

Gilbert said Chapman “wasn’t engaged in what we were doing.”

“He didn’t know the repertoire. He didn’t have respect for the musicians,” she said. “All he was interested in was getting names — famous people. We felt undermined.”

Bagg and Gilbert both said that Chapman had restricted their ability to speak with members of the board of directors, insisting that all communications come through him. They said they had not been invited to participate in the retreat mentioned in the organization’s statement about the restructuring plans.

“I’m hurt and offended by the way we were treated,” Gilbert said. “I can’t see working with Will Chapman. ... It feels like our dear Monadnock Music is being hijacked.”

This article appears in the Oct. 20, 2011, edition of the Ledger-Transcript.