An editorial in Thursday’s (4/22) Columbus Dispatch states, “After skating near insolvency and collapse in mid-February, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra was pulled from the brink by the quick action of its board and quick agreement by the musicians. Now the organization appears to have a plan that might put the orchestra on a sustainable footing. … The symphony’s board and management decided to turn over the organization’s administrative functions to the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, which serves a similar role for the Franklin Park Conservatory, Contemporary American Theatre Company, Phoenix Theatre for Children and Opera Columbus. Its relationship with the symphony became effective three weeks ago. This move will save the orchestra about $750,000 for the fiscal year beginning Sept. 1 and, as CAPA President and Chief Executive Bill Conner says, it allows CAPA to deal with the business side and ‘lets all the art just be about the art.’ … The management team, headed since July 2009 by CSO President Roland Valliere, and the board have been open with the musicians, giving them unprecedented access to board meetings and materials. … With stability and strong leadership, the Columbus symphony might break out of its cycle of crises so that donors can again view it as a good investment.”
Left to right in photo: Martin Inglis, CSO board chair; Bill Conner, CAPA president & CEO; Roland Valliere, CSO president; Michael Petrecca, CAPA board chair
Credit: Terry Gilliam
Posted April 23, 2010
