On Monday (7/29) in his Huffington Post column, Michael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, writes, “It is a true pleasure to read about the health and harmony that reign at the Kansas City Symphony. At this difficult time when so many orchestras are facing economic turmoil, the Kansas City Symphony is balancing its budget and just signed a three-year contract with its musicians. (As if this were not enough, the contract was agreed to one year early—it begins in July, 2014!) Having lived and worked in Kansas City, I know that the Symphony is one of the great treasures of a community that values its arts organizations highly.… This is one instance where having a new hall is a true asset; the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is a beautiful, new facility but it is also an independent institution and the Kansas City Symphony does not have to divert its attention to funding or managing it.” Kaiser lists ingredients in the orchestra’s success: strong artistic and executive leadership, stable board leadership, supportive culture, diversified revenue streams, and commitment to community engagement.
Posted July 30, 2013