Former PD and BJ classical music critic Don Rosenberg is the new editor of The Magazine of Early Music America. EMA describes itself as the advocacy organization for performers, scholars, students and audiences.

Don succeeds Benjamin Dunham, who has been as editor since 2002.

Don, who left the BJ (1977-89) for the PD, teaches music criticism at Oberlin College and is a lecturer at Case Western Reserve University.

He’s a former president the Music Critics Association of North America. But that didn’t carry much weight with PD management, some on the Cleveland Orchestra Board of Directors, who were  offended because of Don’s criticism of Cleveland Orchestra conductor Franz Welser-Mosthad.

Critics across America and the New York Times were outraged. Don sued the PD and the Cleveland Orchestra but lost his lawsuit, which had a four-week trial. And PD readers were put on notice to take Cleveland Orchestra reviews by Don’s intern, Zack Lewis, with a PD building-size block of salt.

PD and former BJ TV critic Mark Dawidziak posted:

“So proud of my pal Donald Rosenberg, the new editor of The Magazine of Early Music America. (Wife) Sara, (daughter) Becky and I had a grand time at Friday night's party for the unveiling of the first issue under his editorship. They're lucky to have him -- one of the most gifted, talented, insightful and honorable writers I know.”

I concur with Mark’s assessment of Don. He has integrity. The PD doesn’t even know how to spell the word, let alone live up to it.

EMA’s headquarters is in Pittsburgh, which I think was Don’s journalism hangout before he came to the BJ. 

EMA’s Board of Directors and staff is a Who’s Who of classical music in America, starting with executive director Ann Felter, named one of the top 50 cultural forces in Pittsburgh.

Don may be contacted at donemag@earlymusic.org