“The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has successfully completed its $5 million emergency fundraising drive with the help of 1,408 new individual donors, contributing an average gift of $340.25 each,” writes Jim Higgins in Wednesday’s (3/26) Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee). “ ‘We are thrilled to have rallied the community and improved our business model. The MSO board will now turn to the big picture—the changes that could permanently stabilize and capitalize the MSO,’ board chairman Douglas Hagerman said. In December, the MSO announced a one-time campaign to raise $5 million to pay off a $2 million shortfall, stabilize its cash flow and plan a balanced budget for its 2014-15 season.… MSO management also reached an agreement with its musicians to reduce the size of the orchestra through retirements and attrition from 79 members to the mid to high 60s next season. The orchestra’s next steps for fiscal health, said president and executive director Mark Niehaus, include a successful annual fund drive and increased ticket sales.… The MSO had an operating budget of $17.9 million in 2012-13 … and plans a budget of $15.8 million in 2014-15.”
Posted March 27, 2014
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra photo by Rick Wood
