According to the Globe, Lord's career has taken off recently and he is in increasing demand as a guest conductor in the U.S. and Canada. He has conducted at the New York City Opera and has been invited to make debuts with San Francisco Opera, Dallas Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

He told the paper, "I am very proud of my time at BLO and will always look back with great happiness to much of the music making we have accomplished. I adore my orchestra and the fine work they have done over the years with me, and not for me, which is a principle in my work. But it is now time for someone else to do this job."

BLO managing director Janice Mancini Del Sesto praised Lord's achievements in the Globe and said she hopes to keep him connected to the orchestra, either as conductor emeritus or on a more informal basis.