“Citing financial difficulties, the Grammy-nominated Lake Forest Symphony under the direction of award-winning Vladimir Kulenovic announced Wednesday that it is canceling the rest of its 2019-20 concert series,” writes Sheryl DeVore in Wednesday’s (2/26) Lake County News-Sun (Illinois). “The symphony board unanimously made that decision, according to its executive director, Timothy Corpus. He said the board invites the community to strategize with them about the symphony’s future…. The paid staff will be terminated in March and the offices will be closed by the end of March … The 2018-19 season budget was roughly $800,000, and it was similar for the 2019-20 season … The Lake Forest Symphony website indicates that the 2018-19 season saw a 94% increase in attendance and 90% increase in ticket sales for its Salon Series…. However, [Corpus] added, ticket sales account for only a small portion of the budget, less than 15%. And that’s not enough to pay for the professional orchestra’s staff and musicians, as well as overhead and other costs…. According to its web site, the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra canceled its third and final concert of its 2019-20 season due to a significant decline in donations and overall lower ticket sales. ‘We recently learned that the orchestra will not receive significant funding from one of our major donors,’ Kristine Walczak, the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra board president, said in a statement. ‘Without this contribution, which represents nearly half of our operating budget, the orchestra simply will not be able to cover the costs to hold the third concert. However, if sufficient funding and donations are received, a third concert could be performed at a later date,’ said Walczak…. ‘If not, we may be forced to shutter the orchestra for good.’ ”
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