“The Petersburg Symphony Orchestra is working to get its musicians back into their chairs for the 2014-2015 concert season, with the hope of finding more funding to do so,” reports Leah Small in Monday’s (9/1) Progress-Index (Petersburg, Virginia). “Over the previous two years, the symphony’s budget decreased from about $75,000 to about $20,000, but PSO president Mark Phillips is hopeful that the recent renewal of the group’s federal nonprofit status will boost donations. Since reapplying for its nonprofit status in the spring of 2013, the performers waited over a year for the status’ renewal. The orchestra, which is mainly funded from contributions, lost funds because donors couldn’t make tax deductions for contributions.… Phillips finally received word in June that its nonprofit status was reinstated and he would like the public to know that the symphony is accepting donations.… The orchestra’s musicians, which number about 60, are not paid but are compensated for travel expenses. Music director Ulysses Kirksey receives a salary and the orchestra must cover the cost of its office operations.… In the meantime, the orchestra has set the dates for its 2014-2015 concert season.”
Posted September 2, 2014
