Press

The Tribune Chronicle

September 25th, 2009

Orchestra makes cuts

Opening concert canceled

By ANDY GRAY

The Warren Philharmonic Orchestra is the latest art organization forced to change its schedule due to financial problems.

The orchestra is canceling the first concert of its 2009-10 season, cutting salaries for musicians and staff by 10 percent and moving the other concerts this season to a smaller venue.

Frank Bodor, president of the orchestra's board of directors, said, ''We've had a quite a few setbacks. Patronage is down considerably because of the economy. We had to make some major adjustments that we were hoping we wouldn't have to make.''

The orchestra has sold about 200 season tickets for the upcoming season, which is down slightly from last year, Bodor said. The bigger hit has been a drop in funding from foundations and donors.

''Primarily, large donations from banks and foundations are what really keeps the orchestra together,'' Bodor said. ''With the economy, they've had to make major cuts. ... It seems when the economy goes down, the arts is the first group to get hit.''

The opening concert, slated for Oct. 18 at Packard Music Hall, has been canceled, although Music Director and Conductor Susan Davenny Wyner will move some of the music scheduled for that performance to the other programs, Bodor said.

Lillie Johnson, a trustee with the orchestra, said her son, baritone Brian Keith Johnson, now will sing as part of the orchestra's November concert.

The other two concerts - on Nov. 22 and March 27, 2010 - will move to Christ Episcopal Church, which was the orchestra's home before moving to the music hall in 2005.

''The acoustics are very, very good there,'' Bodor said. ''It's a regal building, and they were very gracious in having us come there. I think it will be a very good venue.''

It will be less expensive to stage concerts there, Bodor said, but another consideration was the uncertainty at the music hall because of layoffs there and discussions by Warren City Council about cutting off its subsidy of the venue.

Letters have been written and are being sent to season ticket holders explaining the reasons for the cuts. Bodor said subscribers will be encouraged to use the ticket for the canceled first concert to bring a friend to one of the latter performances rather than ask for a refund.

''I go to New York, and the amount people pay for a season ticket here, you'd pay that for parking in New York City,'' Bodor said.

Wyner will continue as music director, he said, but a 10 percent across-the-board cut will be instituted for musicians and staff.

''That's very unfortunate because the musicians are sorely underpaid as it is,'' Bodor said.

As the orchestra regroups, Bodor said the board will look for fundraising possibilities and try to increase its subscriber base to offset funding losses elsewhere.

The Warren Philharmonic Orchestra isn't alone. Locally, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra shortened its season, and musical ensembles nationwide have announced cutbacks.

General manager Barry Dunaway said, ''There's an orchestra similar to us in Georgia that actually folded. We're not going to do that. We're 44 years old, soon to be 45, and we have a rich history. We're hoping we can hang on.''