The Utah Symphony will play at least part of its summer season, and perhaps all of it, depending on some last-minute funding that may have become available Monday.
In a press conference that evening at Abravanel Hall, symphony board chairman Ken Knight announced that the board had voted that afternoon to reduce the orchestra's summer schedule by six weeks, in the face of a projected deficit of about $400,000. But the conference was delayed by more than half an hour as the 14-member executive committee reconvened to discuss an offer of additional money from an undisclosed source.Knight said details still needed to be worked out and that the offer was "based upon certain conditions." But, he said, "we . . . will be back with a firm decision by the end of this week."
Either way, he said, the orchestra's 1995-96 subscription season, representing the bulk of its concerts, would be unaffected.
The six-week cut, if implemented, would reduce musicians' salaries by about 11 percent, from an annual minimum of $35,152. However, Knight said, it would not affect fringe benefits.
Musicians' representatives said they were "grateful someone has come forward at the last minute to provide an alternative to cuts." At the same time they acknowledged that any cuts approved by the board would have to be independently considered by members of the orchestra.
Newly installed symphony president and CEO Donald L. Andrews said the board's vote affirmed its commitment to "a balanced-budget summer season."
At present a deficit of $1.1 million is projected for the 1995-96 season. Knight acknowledged that, although the number of donors has more than doubled over the past 10 years, that increase has not been matched by a "corresponding increase in the number of dollars."