“The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra recorded a surplus of $74,000 on operating expenses of $9.7 million for fiscal year 2020, which ended June 30,” writes Jenna Ross in Wednesday’s (12/16) Star Tribune (Minneapolis). “The financial results … capture the beginning—but not the brunt—of the pandemic…. The SPCO has wiped months of in-person concerts from its calendar, postponed highly anticipated premieres and recently halted its livestreamed performances…. The small surplus will feed a ‘rainy day’ fund the SPCO has been building in recent years…. Said Jon Limbacher, managing director and president, ‘We are cautiously optimistic that we can get through this,’ while protecting the organization’s financial health. ‘However, we still believe that we have two, three hard years ahead of us.’ … This year, the organization will use the $1.2 million in funding it got via the Paycheck Protection Program.… The SPCO froze hiring and shaved other expenses in fiscal 2020 … but it has continued paying musicians…. ‘I am just amazed that we are still being paid our full salary,’ said violinist Daria Adams. ‘It’s unbelievable. I’m humbled.’ … Contributions from businesses and foundations fell $225,000 to $684,000…. Contributions accounted for 66.2% of total revenue, up from 62.8% the year before.”
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