The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in Tennessee, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in Canada, and the Florida Orchestra (based in St. Petersburg) each announced that they have ended their 2010-11 seasons with balanced budgets. Knoxville’s 75th-anniversary year was its fifth consecutive season operating within a balanced budget; in addition to meeting its $1.2 million annual fund goal, Knoxville reported ticket sales that were 15 percent above budget and a successful partnership with the Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville for a production of the Peter Shaffer play Amadeus with orchestra, directed by Cal Maclean and conducted by KSO Music Director Lucas Richman. The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra ended the 2010-11 season with an operating surplus of $119,000 and reported that it had eliminated its accumulated deficit as of June 1, 2011. During the season just ended, the WSO celebrated the 20th anniversary of its New Music Festival, curated by Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate and composer-in-residence Vincent Ho; launched a successful three-concert SoundBytes series featuring new scripts by the orchestra’s artistic team, with soloists, visual elements, and archival material; and traveled to Ottawa in May to perform in the Prairie Scene Festival at the National Arts Centre. The Florida Orchestra ended its 2010-11 fiscal year with a balanced budget; notable accomplishments included an 18 percent growth in total subscribership, an increase in personal giving by 13 percent over the previous year, and a 10 percent growth in the Annual Fund. Following a turnaround business plan instituted by the board in October 2010, the TFO reduced expenses and increased new revenue sources; for the 2011-12 season the TFO has instituted lowered ticket prices for its concerts throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Posted July 18, 2011
