The Southwest Florida Symphony with Interim Artistic Director Stilian Kirov. Photo courtesy of Southwest Florida Symphony.
In Tuesday’s (4/29) Gulf Shore Business (Florida), Harriet Howard Heithaus writes, “The Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra will close its doors June 30, leaving Lee and Charlotte counties without the professional orchestra they’ve had for 64 years. Operational restrictions, increased performance costs and loss of state funding contributed to the decision…. The decision was one of fiscal responsibility, [Board of Trustees President Tom] Uhler said … Uhler recalled that the orchestra had [successfully] come through a crisis a dozen years ago, during the recession … Last year, the orchestra was hurt again by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to zero out almost all arts fundings, a $143,874 loss to the organization. The orchestra held a fundraiser to help make up the difference…. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes Irma and Ian and the COVID-19 pandemic played a strong role. ‘The pandemic and then the storms really did cut attendance,’ he said…. The orchestra presented a series of Masterworks Concerts, Pops Concerts and Holiday Pops Concerts [in] Fort Myers and multiple smaller venues throughout Lee and Charlotte counties…. Executive Director Amy Ginsburg announced she would leave June 30…. The orchestra was established as the Fort Myers Symphony in 1961 as a community orchestra … In 1981, it merged with a chorus and became the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra & Chorus Association.”
