New York's oldest orchestra faces shutdown

UTICA, NY (Classical online magazine) - The Utica Symphony Orchestra, upstate New York's oldest continuing orchestra, may be forced to shut down if it does not get at least $112,000 by mid-February.
"We've had some troubles before but we've never had to shut down. We are hoping to keep that streak going," Susan Smith, the symphony's executive director, said Tuesday.

The 69-year-old symphony canceled its March "Coming Home" concert. That will save about $35,000 in musicians' fees, the first step in cutting expenses, said Symphony President Stephen Merren.
"This is pretty risky to cancel a concert like this, and I hope the public understands the board didn't see any other way," said Merren, a flutist.

The symphony began this season with an operating budget of $500,000. Debt - from concert expenses, bank loans, lines of credit and a past debt of $150,000 - has piled up to create a deficit of $250,000, Smith said.

Merren said he hoped the $112,000 could be raised to eliminate the shortage, and then the board's development committee could work on erasing the debt.

It is the second time in less than a decade that the orchestra has faced a financial crisis. The orchestra has 65 members and performs five classical concerts each season, plus up to four free summertime pop concerts.
"If we can make it through the season, then we've got a shot sizing the season down next year to keep the orchestra afloat," Merren said.

Smith said several factors have worked against the symphony. While sponsorships, membership and concert attendance have remained steady, it has not been enough to offset a decrease in donations and support from state and local government grants.

Dan Falatico, secretary-treasurer of Local 51 Federation of Musicians, said the union is working with orchestra officials to resolve the crisis.

The problem is not just Utica's - orchestras in Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco and Cleveland have suffered substantial financial problems recently.