The National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) announced today that CEO Dave DePeters will retire following 10 festival seasons leading the organization. DePeters will remain in his role as CEO during the transition as the NRO Board of Trustees conducts a comprehensive search for the organization’s next leader.
During DePeters’ tenure, the NRO experienced remarkable organizational and financial growth, with its annual budget, endowment and ticket sales each doubling over the past decade. The organization also more than tripled its total number of events, including orchestral concerts, community engagement performances and educational programs, creating more opportunities for audiences of all ages to experience live music and connect with the NRO throughout the community. This expanded programming helped the NRO reach more than 32,000 people in 2026, nearly three times as many as a decade earlier, reflecting its growing role in enriching the community, expanding access to orchestral music and connecting people through shared musical experiences.
DePeters also helped guide the NRO through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed Michael Stern as the organization’s Music Director, beginning a new chapter in the NRO’s artistic leadership.
“It has been my honor to serve as CEO of the National Repertory Orchestra for the past 10 festival seasons,” said DePeters. “What we have accomplished together is extraordinary, and it is the people who have made the NRO what it is today that I will miss most. “
“Our staff and Board of Trustees have guided the NRO through a period of remarkable growth while remaining disciplined, focused and steadfast in our mission of Changing Lives Through Music. I am grateful for the opportunity to have known 10 seasons of extraordinary NRO musicians and for the privilege to work alongside the NRO’s supporters, patrons and community partners, whose belief in the NRO has made this work incredibly rewarding.”
The NRO Board of Trustees will lead the search for DePeters’ successor, with an emphasis on finding the right leader for the organization rather than adhering to a predetermined timeline. DePeters has committed to remain in his role until the next CEO is in place, ensuring continuity throughout the transition.
“The NRO is approaching this transition from a position of strength” said Johanna Gibbs, Chair of the NRO Board of Trustees. “We will conduct a thoughtful and thorough search process to identify the right person to lead the organization into its next chapter. Like any organization, the NRO has challenges ahead, but we also see tremendous opportunity and a very bright future. Dave has helped build a strong foundation over the past decade, and our responsibility now is to find the right leader to build upon it.”
Following his retirement, DePeters plans to remain in Summit County while enjoying more time and flexibility to travel, including more frequent visits to Philadelphia, where his wife resides.