Gerard Schwarz, music director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra since 1985, will step down at the end of the 2010-11 season, after 26 years as a conductor. The announce was given on Wednesday and has caused regrets among musicians.

The Juilliard graduate first became music adviser for the symphony in 1983 and then music director in 1985. The orchestra has come a long way since those days, and many say that thanks to him the orchestra has acquired the national standing it has now.

"As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our magnificent Benaroya Hall and our extraordinary artistic accomplishments, I believe it is a fitting time to relinquish my Music Director responsibilities of this orchestra," Schwarz said in a prepared statement. "With my new position, I will be afforded the opportunity to continue a relationship with this fine orchestra and focus on the music making I love so dearly."

After his departure, Schwarz will become conductor laureate and will continue to conduct the orchestra as a guest, something that might not please certain musicians of the symphony, as there were reportedly multiple complaints about his behavior and leadership, including alleged threats of strike in the event of Schwarz renewing his contract after the 2010-2011 season.

All in all, everybody agrees that, during his time as a music director, the Seattle Symphony became one of the most prominent in the country. During his tenure, the orchestra gave more than 70 premieres. Over the past decade, audiences grew from 226,000 annually to 321,500 and the budget doubled to $22 million, causing musicians' salaries, among the worst in the nation when Schwarz arrived, increased 500 percent during his directorship.