The Orlando Philharmonic in Florida announced that it ended its 2008-09 fiscal year with a balanced budget, and a small surplus of $17,000. The orchestra reported that the surplus was sufficient to offset the prior fiscal year’s $16,000 budget shortfall. During the past year, the Philharmonic reduced expenses by instituting pay cuts for its music director and executive director, making changes in programming, and reorganizing concert schedules, resulting in an average compensation decrease of $3,000 per musician. Executive Director David Schillhammer commented that the orchestra’s board worked throughout the 2008-09 fiscal year to cut a total of $250,000 in expenses from the budget. The Philharmonic also reported record ticket sales for the just-completed season, including 250 more subscribers than in the previous season; the orchestra’s annual United Arts campaign generated more than $425,000 in donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations—an amount that the orchestra also termed “record-breaking.”
Posted September 1, 2009
