Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra executive director Peter Kucirko posed with his cello in the window of Bella Rose in 2004 for the Herald-Leader's Arts Preview. Photo by David Stephenson.

Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra executive director Peter Kucirko is resigning from the orchestra, effective July 1.

During his 11-year tenure at the Lexington Philharmonic, Kucirko guided the organization as it searched for a successor to music director George Zack, who retired last year after Scott Terrell was hired. Kucirko said his retirement had been in the plans before that search began.

“I had specific conversations with our executive committee saying this is the time period I would like this to happen, and that’s what is happening,” Kucirko said Wednesday afternoon. “I wanted to be sure we got them through the transition and about a year into Scott’s tenure.”

Kucirko said he and his wife, harpist Maria Adamo, plan to stay in Central Kentucky where he wants to play cello more, consult with arts groups such as Actors Guild of Lexington, and focus on their avocation: raising miniature horses.  One of those horses, Nonesuch Spirit of Opie, is in residence at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The equine pursuit inspired “Horsetails,” a music and visual arts project Kucirko and Adamo developed that was a successful fundraiser for the Philharmonic from 2003 to 2006 and has been reprised this year as part of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Kucirko came to the orchestra in April 1999 from Philadelphia where he was an active cellist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and many other ensembles and served as executive director of the Reading Symphony Orchestra, general manager of the Pennsylvania Pro Musica and executive consultant to Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.

Recently, Kucirko has been playing cello for the Lexington Ballet, and he will be part of this weekend’s production, “Nonsense.”

The Philharmonic has begun searching for Kucirko’s successor.