Milwaukee Symphony – Good And Bad News

The Milwaukee Symphony picks up an influential new chairman for its board. The orchestra has also extended music director Andreas Delfs’ contract by three years. “These positive developments come at a low point in the MSO’s fortunes. Attendance has fallen for several seasons, the value of the endowment has slipped to $28 million from a high of over $40 million in 2000, and contributed income has been soft since the economic downturn in 1999. As of March 31, the symphony’s debt stood at $7.1 million, with a credit ceiling of $9 million. That debt includes a projected $3 million shortfall for operations during the current season.”