Diamond Head. Photo by Ted Trimmer.
Kaisers. Photo by Ted Trimmer.
Bad news! The Honolulu Symphony has declared bankruptcy. They are $1 million in debt. Although ticket sales were decent, they represent just 30% of the budget. What the Symphony needs is a rich sugar daddy to finance their operation. Hello, Walter Dods, are you there? Dods, as you know, is a multimillionaire who is still on the board of First Hawaiian Bank. If not Dods, then some other wealthy patron of the arts should step up. David and I have been donating what we can to the Symphony, but it isn’t enough.
I recall that more than 10 years ago, when the musicians were on strike for higher wages, David and I invited a cello trio and a viola-harp-flute trio to perform in our home, each trio on a separate night. There were 100 of us (50 per night), listening to their beautiful music, and after each concert, the musicians spoke about their plight. Those two nights were enlightening.
Now, the symphony is bankrupt. What will happen to these talented, but struggling, musicians? Most of them teach on the side, so they have some income. Others will have to relocate to the mainland or elsewhere.
Ironically, just three months ago, I called the box office to buy subscription tickets to the season’s concerts. I was told, however, that the seats I wanted (last row in the balcony) were not part of the package, because they were going to be sold as single tickets just prior to each concert. I hung up, intending to purchase single tickets when they went on sale. I guess we won’t be attending symphony concerts this season.
David and I now wonder if the opera season is in jeopardy. We have already bought opera tickets, but where will the musicians come from?
November 8, 2009 at 4:51 pm |
No Symphony and teachers being furloughed…
The state of the State…
November 8, 2009 at 8:31 pm |
Its very sad….for all those music lovers and the talented musicians.Is there any hope of their revival….can’t your govt.steps forward and help them ?
Gigi,my daughter made me a beautiful card if you got time please visit this link…
kavita-myguwahati.blogspot.com
November 8, 2009 at 9:06 pm |
What a beautiful blog, Kavita! I put it on my list of favorites to visit every day.
The government is too poor to help the symphony.
November 8, 2009 at 9:23 pm |
The symphony has been in trouble for a long time now. The last time this happened (two years ago) someone sold their beach front condo and donated the money to the symphony. It kept them afloat this long.
I know for a fact (because I worked for one of the companies) that some of the local businesses gave the symphony pro bono services to help them out. That, too, has kept them afloat this long.
The most amazing thing of all is that these wonderful, talented musicians have continued to practice and play even though they have not received a paycheck in months, but no help is forth coming to keep the symphony solvent.
We can give, but we don’t have enough money to make any kind of noticeable difference in their budget. Folks don’t understand that music and instruments and costumes and transportation to and from their venues — and venue rental! — costs a lot of money — plus there is the maintenance, lease and utilities payments on their facility.
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to write a post in your comments, but this makes me so frustrated and sad!
November 8, 2009 at 9:25 pm |
And my point was — none of us can give enough, but if we all gave some, it might amount to enough.
November 8, 2009 at 9:36 pm |
WELL SAID, QUILLY!
If we all donated $10 each, that would amount to more than $10 million total each year. What a commitment that would be to a cultural treasure!
November 8, 2009 at 11:41 pm |
It really is a sad sign of the times, isn’t it?
November 9, 2009 at 12:22 am |
Thanks GIGI….i got greedy ,i wanted to share my day with you girls and catch as many as wishes from you all.This blog contains many of my old posts plus new too…here i write if get some free time.In my room we have divided a week each amongst three of us….next Monday is my turn.Now i read more but write less,easier on me.
November 9, 2009 at 10:04 am |
Very sorry to hear that. Where would we all be without such beautiful music? I read recently all the musicians in the Baltimore Symphony took a pay cut because they are also feeling the crunch. Yes, a sign of the times.
November 11, 2009 at 10:36 pm |
I feel deeply regretful that the symphony is filing for bankruptcy. I like to think that the Symphony Board will start listening to players’ suggestions for raising money – per a letter to the editor of the Star Bulletin.