Dr. Stanley Romenstein has resigned as president and CEO of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The collective bargaining agreement between the orchestra’s players association and ASO leadership expired on Sept. 6 and a new agreement has not been reached. In a statement, Romenstein said he believed his leadership of the orchestra was getting in the way of new agreement.

““I believe that my continues leadership of the ASO would be an impediment to our reaching a new labor agreement with the ASO’s musicians,” Dr. Romanstein said in the statement, released Monday afternoon.

Christina Smith is principal flutist for the orchestra and a member of the player’s association negotiating committee.

“Stanley was brought here to raise money for the orchestra and he didn’t fulfill his promise,” said Smith. “He didn’t fulfill his end of the bargain.”

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has faced an operating deficit for the past twelve years. According to Smith, Romenstein does not have the authority to sign a labor agreement with the players association. That falls on the leaders of the Woodruff Arts Center, which oversees the symphony.

Tags: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, ASO