Posted on: Friday, July 13, 2001

Honolulu Symphony finds $1 million donor

Advertiser Staff

The Honolulu Symphony is celebrating a complete financial turnaround this summer with a $1 million anonymous donation and its first balanced budget in three years.

Last year the symphony saw a total operating shortfall of more than $800,000. It has since climbed out of its debt through individual, corporate and foundation donations.

"This is a great day for the symphony," said Stephen Bloom, executive director of the symphony. "The annual fund- drive donations came in at the wire, some from individuals who have never supported the symphony in the past. We appreciate their willingness."

Budget projections at the start of the year predicted a shortfall of $250,000, but record ticket sales and a windfall of donations made the difference. Bloom and his staff also cut overall expenses by nearly $1 million.

Sales for the Halekulani Classical Masterworks series plus the special New Year's production of Beethoven's Ninth were up 12 percent, and the Hawaiian Airlines Pops season saw a 42 percent increase.

In addition, the symphony played for Disney's Buena Vista premiere of "Pearl Harbor" aboard the USS John Stennis for an undisclosed sum, and received a $230,000 grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation.

An anonymous donor had pledged a $1 million gift if the symphony completed its fiscal year June 30 with a balanced budget. Now the symphony is conducting a matching gift campaign with hopes to double that donation by Dec. 31.

"A lot of hard work and tremendous effort have gotten us where we are today," said board chairwoman Carolyn Berry. "The people in this community are excited about the future of the Honolulu Symphony.