Worst may be over for orchestra

By Kristen Peterson

Friday, March 6, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic avoided extinction in December and has been battling to keep itself alive.

Just before its Christmas concert, board members and executives of the philharmonic learned that the institution didn’t have the $90,000 it needed to go forward with its January youth concerts. And, executives said a budget deficit of $200,000 meant the orchestra would barely make it though the first of the year.

The news was a wake-up call for members of the board and orchestra, some of whom were clashing with the now-departed board president. Others had no idea the orchestra was having financial problems. Donors came forward to fund the youth concerts. The staff took pay cuts and positions have since been vacated. Board and guild members are volunteering their time to keep the organization afloat.

Conductor David Itkin announced at the February concert that the orchestra received a $100,000 matching grant and asked audience members to open their wallets.

Jeri Crawford, vice president of the board, is serving as the philharmonic’s presiding officer until the orchestra — and the economy — is back on its feet. She says matching grants are coming in, but the philharmonic needs to be creative as it moves forward, especially when concerts alone cost six figures to present.

Crawford and her husband, Rick, have sponsored concerts and soirees, and provide the philharmonic with an office.

Q: How did the board not know the severity of the problems?

Boards have problems, organizations have problems. Sometimes you’re so close to something you don’t see it. Because it’s been all brought out in the open, it seems like there is this renewal in the community. There has been this new synergy between the board and the guild and between the musicians.

How close were you to canceling youth concerts?

Pretty close. It could have happened very easily.

Are you surprised by the community response?

When we had all the problems at the end of last year, supporters said, “We want the youth concerts to move forward.” There was so much compassion. The reality that there might not be a philharmonic really shook people up.

What’s happened since the shake-up?

We’ve had to take a look at everything. We’ve had a refocus of management and responsibility, a reorganization of budgets and expenditures. We’ve had a restructuring of the board and the board members.

Who is running the philharmonic?

For the first time in a long time we have a working board. Everyone on the board has an assignment. We’re doing a lot of community outreach. We have a new team that’s interacting with orchestra members and the guild. Guild members have been coming in two to three days a week. We have new blood, new energy, new life at the philharmonic. We’ll announce the next season in April.

Was there a concern that the orchestra would collapse?

There was absolutely a concern.

Where do things stand right now?

We’re working on our budget right now. We’ve had wonderful people come from out of nowhere who want to help, and we talk to everybody. But we’re not out of the woods yet.