In Tuesday’s (1/26) Seattle Times, Janet I. Tu writes, “Suffering under the weight of the recession and years of operating losses, the Everett Symphony announced Tuesday it is canceling the rest of its season after a Friday concert, and moving out of its rehearsal hall and administrative offices in downtown Everett. The ‘American Idols’ concert, featuring the works of American composers, will be the Symphony’s last of the 2009-10 season. It’s hoping to come back in the fall. Patrons who have not bought tickets for the concert but still have tickets for the remainder of the season can exchange their tickets for entry to the Friday concert, or will be given full refunds. … The drastic moves come after nine years of operating deficits that resulted in a $500,000 accumulated debt. The Symphony has used half of its $1 million endowment to retire that debt, with the approval of the original donors, [board member Roger] Pawley said. The recession has also hit the Symphony hard, with season ticket sales and donations both down about 35 percent this season. … The 71-year-old Symphony has a core audience of about 1,500 patrons, and had been running on a budget ranging from $350,000 to $600,000 over the past several years. It’s considered a semiprofessional orchestra, with about 70 musicians under annual contract who receive a stipend per performance. The musicians are donating their services for the Friday concert.”
Posted January 27, 2010
Pictured: Everett Symphony Orchestra Music Director Dr. Paul-Elliott Cobbs
