In Friday’s (4/15) La Crosse Tribune (Wisconsin), Terry Rindfleisch writes, “Put together a good symphony orchestra and people will come to the concerts. But that’s not exactly the case for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and many others facing financial crises with fewer people in the seats in a slow economy. This weekend could be the last of the double concerts for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra for a while. The orchestra has presented the double concert format—two performances a weekend—since the 1998-99 season. Next season’s lineup will be single concerts, but one or two matinees could be added, said Traci Fell, the orchestra’s executive director. It’s part of more cutbacks expected in the orchestra’s budget due to the economy, less financial support and declining ticket sales. … But Fell and Lance Paulson, the symphony’s president, said the orchestra plans to rely less on ticket sales next season and more on corporate and individual donations. ‘Historically, our budget has always been built on ticket sales, which make up 38 percent of our revenues, and that is too high,’ Paulson said. ‘We need to increase contributions if we want a symphony in our community.’ ”
Posted April 15, 2011
