Symphony plays on despite tough times

November 20, 2008
Liz Monteiro
RECORD STAFF

WATERLOO REGION

The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony needs to come up with new ways to raise money rather than relying on "crisis fundraising,'' says the orchestra's executive director.

Genevieve Twomey told the Waterloo Region Record's editorial board yesterday that the symphony will continue to maintain its programming during the economic downturn.

"The economy is presenting us with a challenge,'' she said.

Twomey said the history of the symphony has been one of crisis.

"We can't operate in the way the symphony has operated in the last five years,'' she said. "We have to operate differently.''

Two years ago, the symphony was the verge of bankruptcy. A community-wide campaign raised $2.5 million and saved the symphony.

At the symphony's annual general meeting earlier this month, numbers showed the symphony was ending its fiscal year with a loss of $275,000.

Tickets sales in 2008 were down over $170,000 from 2007. Also, the symphony's endowments are down by $77,000.

"We are cognizant that we have a deficit,'' Twomey said.

"I acknowledge the history of the symphony. It's part of the organization we are today,'' she said. "But we need to move forward.''

Twomey said the local symphony is the largest regional orchestra in Canada. It has 52 musicians.

"We spend a lot of time talking about finances. We need to talk about music,'' Twomey said.

Twomey said music director Edwin Outwater has "invigorated" the orchestra's music programming. The community's confidence has grown since Outwater came to the symphony, she said.

"People are engaged by him,'' she said.

lmonteiro@therecord.com


Copyright: The Record @http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/446967

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