In Monday’s (12/19) Cincinnati Enquirer, Janelle Gelfand writes, “An increase of more than 1,000 new donors and an upsurge in ticket sales means the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra expects a balanced budget for a third straight year, the orchestra announced today. The orchestra saw a 300-percent increase in subscriptions sold last season. … In addition, the CSO received nearly $3 million more in contributions than in the previous fiscal year. Besides contributions and ticket sales, a third element in the balanced budget was ‘very disciplined cost control,’ said Trey Devey, the orchestra’s president.” A gift from 100-year-old Louise Nippert has also been instrumental. “The orchestra receives an annual draw of more than $3 million from the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, an $85 million endowment that she gave to Cincinnati’s musical arts two years ago. ‘It has not been the norm for most orchestras to have three years of budget surpluses during this challenging economic period. It’s a great accomplishment,’ said Judith Kurnick, vice president for strategic communications for the League of American Orchestras, a national service organization. … The orchestra announced the news for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, which included Paavo Järvi’s final season as music director. Average attendance for classical concerts in Music Hall increased by 11.5 percent over the previous season. For the Cincinnati Pops, a season dedicated to late Pops conductor Erich Kunzel, attendance jumped 15.5 percent.”
Posted December 19, 2011
