“Because of a financial shortfall, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s board of directors have scheduled a special meeting late Thursday afternoon to see if the group will be able to find a way to afford putting on the final concerts of its season May 5-6,” writes Mike Danahey in Wednesday’s (3/28) Elgin Courier-News (Elgin, IL). “ESO Director of Marketing Diane Handler said staff first heard the news of the possible cancellation last Friday…. Symphony CEO Dave Bearden said … there were signs last fall that major fundraising efforts were falling short. Elgin Communications Specialist Molly Center said the symphony has more than $19,000 in outstanding bills for renting the Hemmens Cultural Center…. The Ainsworth Concerts for Youth set for schoolchildren April 10-13 will go on as planned…. Bearden said more details of the symphony’s financial situation will be made available Friday, as will the decision on if the last concerts of this season will take place and how plans for the 2018-19 season will go forward. Handler said two dozen people have been invited to attend the Thursday meeting, including board members, musician representatives, a symphony trustee and someone from the Elgin Symphony League.”
Posted March 29, 2018
