“After 43 years, including some recent rocky ones, the Bellevue Philharmonic is shutting down,” writes Janet Tu in Friday’s (6/10) Seattle Times. “The board announced Friday that the orchestra will cease operations by the end of July. Its July 4 Concert in the Park at Symetra Bellevue Family 4th will be the orchestra’s last. ‘After months of discussion and analysis, the board made this decision given the long-term realities facing the organization,’ the Bellevue Philharmonic said in a statement…. Reached by phone Friday, [Board President Janis] Wold said the board had been ‘struggling over it,’ voting to shut the orchestra down last month, with the final decision made Wednesday. Board members have been aggressively paying down the orchestra’s debt, which at the end of the 2008-09 season was just over $200,000. … The orchestra said checks will be refunded to subscribers who already have sent payment for the 2011-12 season. … The orchestra was able to present a full season in 2010-11, though it had contemplated a smaller one. … Board members say they hope someone will be able to revive the Bellevue Philharmonic in the future—especially after the opening of the Tateuchi Center, a planned 2,000-seat performance center in downtown Bellevue. Groundbreaking for the Tateuchi Center is targeted for 2012, with opening projected for 2014.”
Posted June 13, 2011l
