ONNY’s founding concertmaster resigns after 37 years

POTSDAM, N.Y. (WWTI) – Orchestra of Northern New York has said in a press release that John Lindsey, founding concertmaster of ONNY, is resigning effective April 1, 2025.

Lindsey has been with ONNY for 37 years. The ONNY Board of Directors is dedicating its fall concert, SPACED OUT – A Musical Odyssey, to Lindsey. Performances take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in SUNY Potsdam’s Hosmer Hall, and Sunday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. in Watertown’s First Presbyterian Church.

In a prepared statement from ONNY, Lindsey said he knew it was time for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is to spend time with his family.

“ ONNY has enabled me to play great literature with good colleagues ,” Lindsey said recently in conversation with ONNY Executive Director Kathy Del Guidice. “ ONNY is in pretty good shape. It has improved a lot over the years and is continuing to do well, ” he added. He noted that communication is better and the musicians are receiving their music earlier, giving them more practice time before just three rehearsals leading into their first performance.

In 1981, Lindsey joined the violin faculty at the Crane School of Music, and retired in 2016, serving as coordinator of strings for fifteen years. In Spring 2009, he attained the highest rank for a faculty member at the State University of New York, the SUNY Distinguished Service Professorship.

Other awards Lindsey has received include:

• SUNY Potsdam President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1993;
• SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003; and
• Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Lindsey said he would continue to teach in his private studio. “ I am not retiring ,” he said, “ just resigning from ONNY. I wish the Orchestra the very best .”

For more information about Lindsey, you can visit his website .

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