In Wednesday’s (1/25) Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), Catherine Roberts writes, “The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has ‘all of our cylinders clicking’ artistically with music director Arild Remmereit halfway through a successful first season and stability in its other talent, said President and CEO Charles Owens. Now, the organization must rebuild financially to keep its musical voice strong. The RPO ended its last fiscal year with a modest profit—and the best news—higher ticket revenue and a record $2 million coming from season subscriptions, Owens said. But the balanced budget required more than $500,000 in musician and staff salary concessions. During its annual meeting on Tuesday, the organization announced a surplus of $20,371 on a budget of $9.3 million for the 2011 fiscal year that ended Aug. 31. Last year, the orchestra made $2,416. ‘Two years in a row (of surpluses) is better than not,’ Owens said. ‘But we’re going to have to do it for a third year, and a fourth year and a fifth year.’ That means the orchestra must try to raise enough money this year not only to meet the operating budget but to try to restore compensation to former levels, said board chairwoman Elizabeth Rice.”
Posted January 26, 2012
