Topper Smith, general manager of the Orange County Pacific Symphony for the past 13 months, has resigned to take an administrative post with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
Effective immediately, Smith will serve as orchestra manager of the Pasadena-based organization, reporting to executive director Robert Elias. (Smith had succeeded Elias as Pacific Symphony general manager in late January, 1984.)
According to Raymond Ikola, president of the Pacific Symphony Assn. board, no replacement for Smith has been chosen.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Smith said his Pacific Symphony duties had overlapped substantially with those of Keith Clark, who is founder and music director of the orchestra, based in Fullerton.
"What they need is someone whose specialties are marketing and (fund) development. Those areas are not what I do best. I have always preferred the music aspects, and to have both Keith and me doing the same thing is silly," Smith said. He added that he will continue as an adviser to the symphony.
