In Friday’s (5/22) St. Petersburg Times (Florida), John Fleming reports, “The Florida Orchestra has laid off three staff members and instituted pay cuts for next season. ‘We didn’t really get hit by the recession until January,’ said president Michael Pastreich, adding that the orchestra has had a drop-off in single-ticket sales and donations in the troubled economy.” The cuts, which amount to $250,000 in savings, leave a staff of about 20. “The pay cuts start with the president, whose $175,000 salary will be reduced by 10 percent on July 1. Staffers making $75,000 or more will have their salaries cut 7.5 percent; those making $50,000 and more, 5 percent; and those making under $50,000 will have their pay frozen. … Fundraising has been tough, although the orchestra announced last week a gift of up to $100,000 from Raymond James Financial. … The orchestra’s ‘sustainability’ campaign for long-term stability is not likely to make this fiscal year’s goal of $20 million. So far, more than $14 million has been raised. … On the plus side, Pastreich said masterworks subscription sales for 2009-10 are ahead of where they were at this point last year.”
Posted May 22, 2009
