Final bow: This season will be Southwest Florida Symphony’s last
After 60-plus years of performances, operations to conclude June 30
A Southwest Florida staple is saying goodbye after more than six decades of presenting orchestral performances for the community.
The Southwest Florida Symphony announced on Tuesday its decision to permanently close, with operations continuing through June 30.
As Lee County’s only professional orchestra and one of the oldest symphony orchestras in Florida, the Southwest Florida Symphony created a legacy in Lee and Charlotte counties. The symphony played a substantial role in helping community members discover and enrich their love of music.
“We are so proud of the countless joyous experiences and treasured memories that the Southwest Florida Symphony has provided to residents, visitors and music lovers across our community over 64 years,” said Tom Uhler, president of the board of trustees for the Southwest Florida Symphony, in a release. “We are honored to have the longtime support of many donors, supporters and concert goers who have shared our love for orchestral music over the years. While we bid farewell to this chapter, the Southwest Florida Symphony team remains committed to preserving the rich legacy of orchestral music and its impact on the community.”
Established as the Fort Myers Symphony in 1961 as a community orchestra consisting of 24 volunteer musicians, the symphony spent its early years performing a handful of concerts in community centers, schools and churches, growing a following throughout the region. In 1981, it merged with a chorus and became the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra & Chorus Association.
Over time, the symphony grew to a roster of 70 world-class musicians. Each season, the orchestra presented a series of Masterworks Concerts, Pops Concerts, and Holiday Pops Concerts at various venues throughout Lee and Charlotte counties. In addition to expanding its concert series to multiple communities throughout Southwest Florida, the symphony has also performed in cities across the state.
Southwest Florida Symphony officials stated the unfortunate fact is that classical music is struggling to thrive across the country, and that there are very few suitable, cost-effective venues in Lee and Charlotte counties and the costs of performances have grown to be very expensive. They also cite an abundance of live entertainment options competing for the community’s attention.
“As a nonprofit that relies heavily on donors and sponsors, with ticket sales covering a fraction of the orchestra’s budget, this reality has resulted in annual operating deficits,” symphony officials said. “Despite financial prudence and tireless efforts to persevere, repeated annual deficits that the symphony experiences due to operational restrictions, increased performance costs and loss of state funding are no longer viable.”
“After much consideration and given recent leadership departures at the staff and board levels, the Board of Trustees has determined that the only course of action is to close the Southwest Florida Symphony,” Uhler said. “It was a difficult decision, and I’m proud of the board’s commitment to the Symphony with consideration for the staff, the musicians, the donors and community. We appreciate everyone’s support over the years.”
In a message to patrons and community sponsors, symphony officials stated that they are proud of the countless joyous experiences and treasured memories that the Southwest Florida Symphony has provided to residents, visitors, students and music lovers across the community over 64 years.
“While we bid farewell to this chapter, the Southwest Florida Symphony team remains committed to preserving the rich legacy of orchestral music and its impact on the community,” stated a message from staff and the Board of Trustees. “We’re grateful for our many years of support from the Endowment Foundation and are proud of our collaboration with them. They are positioned to ensure they can continue serving the arts community for years to come.”
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com