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Florida Orchestra cuts jobs, budgetBy JOHN FLEMING
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA -- The slowdown in the economy has caught up with the Florida Orchestra. In a special board meeting Wednesday, trustees approved a plan to cut the orchestra's 2001-02 budget by $550,000, to $7.6-million. "Every department was looked at, every line item, every expense. Nothing was left untouched," executive director Leonard Stone said. Three management staff positions were cut: a receptionist, a music library assistant and an operations employee. Two vacant orchestra positions will be left unfilled. "We had 80 players last season," Stone said. "Now we're going to be at 78." In addition, all orchestra employees will have to take a week of unpaid leave. In the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, the orchestra had a budget of about $8.2-million. It expects to post a deficit of as much as $400,000, primarily because of a shortfall in contributions. About half the orchestra's budget is met by gifts from corporations, individuals and government. Stone said he gained savings of about $100,000 by renegotiating lower fees with guest artists and conductors for the coming season, which opens Sept. 21-23. The reduced budget will complicate discussions on a new musicians' contract. The current one-year contract expires at the end of this month. Management and musicians have agreed to continue the old contract terms while a new deal is negotiated. Typically, orchestra contracts run three years. Florida Orchestra members had been looking forward to stabilizing their situation, but that may not be possible now. "This will influence negotiations," Stone said. "It colors the starting point of what we can pay." Big works such as the Verdi Requiem, scheduled for March, may have to be canceled. Requiem calls for four vocal soloists and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. "But there is an effort by people who feel strongly about our relationship with the Master Chorale to raise the money to make sure that it goes on," Stone said. This season will be a turning point in the orchestra's 34 years. It's the final season under music director Jahja Ling, who is stepping down after 14 years. Six possible successors will guest-conduct programs during the season. It's also the last season for resident conductor Thomas Wilkins, who has taken the same post with the Detroit Symphony. In October, a number of resident conductor candidates will work with the orchestra during rehearsals.
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From the wire |
