In Friday’s (6/12) Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal (subscription only), Jim Hammerand writes, “We play from a different book in the Twin Cities. That, at least, should be the impression members of the League of American Orchestras get from their visit to Minnesota for their annual conference, hosted this year by the Minnesota Orchestra and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO). … The SPCO has taken a novel approach to get more people in its seats and more money into its coffers. ‘The results have been spectacular,’ said SPCO President and Managing Director Sarah Lutman. … The SPCO dropped most ticket prices to $10 or $25 in 2005 and has taken its show on the road more often, expanding its neighborhood concert series from three Twin Cities sites to nine. The orchestra plays 40 concerts per season at its home venue, St. Paul’s Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and just as many at the satellite venues. … That’s a good lesson for the hundreds of orchestra representatives in town this week, said Leonard, Street and Deinard attorney Lowell Noteboom, an amateur cellist with strong ties to the music community.” Noteboom is chairman of the League of American Orchestras.
Posted June 13, 2011
