We read, with disappointment, your editorial in last Saturday’s Denver Post. Balance and accuracy are the linchpins of journalism, and both were sadly lacking in your reporting of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. In fact, your conclusion is based on gross misrepresentation of the events and of the timeline.
It is true that the CSO ran a deficit of $1.2 million in fiscal 2010-11. It also ran deficits in the two prior fiscal years. All those deficits were concealed with financial manipulation and were incurred despite great financial sacrifices by the musicians. To cover up the problems, prior management invaded the escrow account in fiscal 2011.
The decision of Opera Colorado to not use the orchestra this year was because it was concerned about the “financial stability of the symphony,” not because an alternative was cheaper.
All of these events occurred under the board and management who abandoned the organization when 25 board members resigned. That group failed to meet a single budget and alienated the musicians and many of the constituents of the support community.
The problems, epitomized by the departure of these board members, were caused by a failure of leadership and a complete lack of fiscal responsibility. The trustees have both a legal and a moral responsibility to the stakeholders, in this case the community, to monitor the activities of the organization and to protect it from harm. If they believed that the organization couldn’t survive, they had an obligation to fix it or tank it. They had the power. They walked out the door.
Yes, the orchestra has high fixed costs. That’s the business model of any team of highly talented and trained individuals. Think Broncos, Nuggets and Avalanche. Is the contract under which the orchestra operates efficient and flexible enough for an orchestra in the 21st century? That is precisely what the transition team, current board and musicians are addressing. The orchestra needs to utilize the time of the musicians more efficiently, in different configurations and in more diverse venues than it currently does. The business plan and contract which have been developed in collaboration with the musicians provides for all of that. We intend to release our new business plan and execute the new contract before the end of the month.
Finally, we find it strange that The Denver Post didn’t reach out to the current leadership before printing its conclusion. Instead it seemingly relied on information being disseminated by the people who couldn’t get the job done.
Jerry Kern and Mary Rossick Kern are co-chairs of the Colorado Symphony Board of Trustees.
