Abel Selaocoe, who joined the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as an artistic partner, performs with the SPCO on Oct. 12, 2023. Photo by Claire Loes/St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
In Tuesday’s (12/5) Twin Cities-Pioneer Press (Minnesota), Ross Raihala writes, “The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra wrapped its fiscal year that ended June 30 with a balanced budget and an operating surplus of $77,600, the organization announced during its annual meeting of members Tuesday. The balanced budget is the 28th in the past 30 years and allowed the orchestra to expand its Rainy Day Fund to $4.54 million. The operating surplus is down from $163,393 last year. The orchestra has seen a shift away from corporate and foundation support and a 30 percent decline in ticket revenue compared to pre-pandemic. Post-pandemic, audiences nearly doubled in size, growing from 35,559 in the 2021-2022 season to 70,895 in the 2022-2023 season…. Total operating expenses for the fiscal year were $10,565,362 and total operating revenue for the period was $10,642,962, increases of about $1 million to each from the previous year. The SPCO received $7,159,851 in contributed operating support from individuals, foundations, corporations and institutions…. Accessible ticket pricing continues to be a focus for the SPCO, with 20,673 tickets sold for $15 or less. Another 12,920 tickets were distributed free … The SPCO commissioned five new pieces in the season, with a commitment to commissioning and programming works by composers who have been historically underrepresented.”
